Explain the Concerns of Genetically Modified (GM) Foods
The benefits of genetically modified foods . However, in the context of genetically modified foods, concern from environmental, food safety and ethical angles have been raised. Further, concerns related to nutrient aspect of GM foods, elimination, loss, reduction or increase in anti-nutrition due to genetic modification and increase in anti-nutritional factors need to be addressed. Issues of concern to environment include the capability of the GM organism to escape and introduce the engineered gene into wild population (cross breeding) through pollen drift leading to loss of biodiversity. The transgenic material from GM maize cultivated by a farmer could be transferred in non-GM maize cultivated in the neighboring farmer's field without his knowledge. There could be the possibility of development of resistance in the target organism. This is particularly true for cotton Concerns from the health angle include toxicity, allergen city, nutritional imbalance, possible gene transfer such as antibiotic resistant gene to gut flora which could adversely affect the therapeutic efficacy of orally administered antibiotics, unintentional effects in the form of acquisition of new. traits or loss of existing traits and use of unapproved varieties like Star Link maize. Concerns of ethical nature have been raised from vegetarian groups on using animal genes in plants.
Thus, the risk and uncertainties surrounding the process of genetic engineering and the resulting GM product has resulted in considerable public debate and consumer groups have been vociferous in demanding labeling of GM products.