Are genetically modified foods safe?

There's a big debate over whether or not genetically modified (GM) foods are safe to eat. It's important to look at both sides of the argument when making the decision for yourself.

As people become more personally invested in the food they eat, one issue that crops up is how safe genetically modified (GM) foods are. Roughly a third of foods you can buy in your grocery store today have been genetically engineered to some extent. But given that, what's the real story behind GM foods?

What does it mean for food to be genetically modified?

Many people automatically think scary thoughts when it comes to GM foods, but that doesn't always have to be the case. Most simply, genetic engineering is when food scientists look at the most favourable and unfavourable traits of a particular food, then use science to either promote or isolate that component.

It can also include introducing a characteristic to a food that wasn't naturally there before, such as making it more resistant to chemicals or pests. And when done in a particular manner, GM foods can even be beneficial for the environment in which they're grown.

Looking at the positives and negatives of GM foods

With the GM food argument, there are pros and cons to each position. Some of the positives include:

• Increased nutrition content: by extracting a food's most positive features, that food's nutrient content can be intensified to get more health benefits with less food. This can be especially useful in parts of the world where people might not have access to the healthiest foods.
• Increased resistance: one of the biggest dangers facing crop vitality is the percentage of it that can be grown to maturity. With genetic engineering, a crop's chances of survival against pests and chemicals can be greatly increased.
• Better for the environment: because of a crop's increased resistance to pests and chemicals, not as many insecticides and pesticides are needed to keep it healthy. In turn, this means a better and healthier impact on the environment.

However, GM foods aren't entirely without faults and these are some of the biggest concerns.

• Allergies: one of the ways GM foods can be engineered is to add components that weren't naturally part of the food. When this occurs, one of the byproducts can be increased allergies to the new mixes or proteins that weren't there before.
• Antibiotics resistance: antibiotics are generally taken to treat bacterial infections and must be taken in a complete course. Gradual exposure to antibiotics in GM foods means your body can develop a resistance to antibiotics, making medications less efficient in treating conditions.
• Unbalanced ecosystem: when left alone, predators and prey exist in a fine catch-and-kill balance. Removing one aspect of that can upset an ecosystem and trigger environmental changes.

Before making a decision one way or another about GM foods, it's important to look at both sides of the issue and become as informed as possible.