GMOs are a hot political, social and cultural topic across the globe.
GMO is the abbreviation for genetically modified organisms. The individual gene of one species is transferred into another nonrelated species. Medicines, foods, feeds, and fibers are among the products that are currently being genetically modified.
Why?
Cheaper food is cited as a reason to develop GMOs.
Some of the advantages of these products are lower costs, more durability and more nutritional value.
Evaluation of GMOs
GMOs are under scrutiny.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is evaluating both the positive and negative aspects of GMOs by looking at increased nutritional content of foods, greater efficiency in food production, and negative effects on human health.
Environmental Issues
The concerns regarding the introduction of engineered genes into the natural world include degradation of existing organisms, and loss of genetic stability and biodiversity.
Regulation
Currently some countries do not have any regulations on GM foods. Countries that do have legislation focus on the risk to consumer health and usually regulate GMOs.
Safety
It is not possible to assess GM foods as a group as each food needs to be assessed individually. To date, in countries where GM foods have been approved, there has been no ill effect on human health from the consumption of these foods by the general population.
