Grocery List project #:4

Genetically Altered Foods

Genetically altered foods are food products that have been directly altered through genetic engineering. Unlike conventional genetic modification that is carried out through time-tested conventional breeding and that have been consumed for thousands of years. Genetically altered foods were first put on the market in the early 1990's. The most common altered foods that are on sale for public consumption are derived from plants: soybean, sweet corn, tomotoes, canola oil, and rice. There are many more foods that are genetically altered for public consumption such as wheat bread, general mills corn flakes cereal, ball park franks, jiffy corn muffin mix, gardenburgers and quaker chewy granola bars.

There are many major controversies surround genetically engineered crops and foods. These commonly focus on the long-term health effects for anyone eating them, environmental safety, labeling and consumer choice, intellectual property rights, ethics, food security, poverty reduction, environmental conservation, and potential disruption or even possible destruction of the food chain.

Research show that the biggest supporters are these multi-national corporations and governments engaged in the genetic engineering of food claim the technology to be a boon for the human race, while many health-conscious people believe it to be a potential and/or actual disaster.

Genetically altered foods have the potential to solve many of the world's hunger and malnutrition problems, and to help protect and preserve the environment by increasing yield and reducing reliance upon chemical pesticides and herbicides. Yet there are many challenges ahead for governments, especially in the areas of safety testing, regulation, international policy and food labeling. Many people feel that genetic engineering is the inevitable wave of the future and that we cannot afford to ignore a technology that has such enormous potential benefits. However, we must proceed with caution to avoid causing unintended harm to human health and the environment as a result of our enthusiasm for this powerful technology.