Claim
Claim: Genetically Modified (GM) foods do not affect our health in any way
Rationale: The claim, “Genetically Modified (GM) foods do not affect our health in any way” is an extensive statement that includes many possible topics to investigate, such as allergic reactions, liver changes, and glyphosate dangers. Genetically modified food or GMO foods is food that has been resultant from a method involving genetically engineered foods or bioengineered foods. This process artificially modifies the DNA of the organism making the plants more resistant to climate changes, viruses, and common pests. Many GM foods fill the shelves of our local supermarket such as corn, canola, and zucchini. There had been some concerns that GMOs might cause allergies, this had become a major concern to consumers. GM Soya beans have become a main concern to the public, but do GM soya beans cause more severe and/or anaphylactic reactions than non-GM soya beans?
Analysis and interpretation:
Allergic Reactions: Protein in soya beans cause the vast majority of allergic reactions. Genetically modified soya beans can create a new set of allergen and allergic reactions, specifically to those individuals who are enormously sensitive. The procedure of creating a GM crop produces massive collateral damage in the plants DNA. Native genes could be deleted, mutated, permanently turned on or off, and hundreds may change their levels of protein expression. This could increase existing allergens, or produce a new, unknown allergen. A test was conducted with eight human subjects who had a skin-prick reaction to GM soy, one did not also react to non-GM soy, suggesting that GM soy is exclusively dangerous. “I used to test for soy allergies all the time, but now that soy is genetically engineered, it is so dangerous that I tell people never to eat it—unless it says organic.” -Allergy specialist John Boyles, MD. Allergic reactions aren’t the only dangerous outcome to consuming GM soya beans, it can also have a damaging effect on the liver.
Liver Changes: According to scientists, the genetically modified soya beans can cause toxemia and liver damage this is caused by over-consumption of GM soya beans. There has been a chronic toxicity study that used Wistar albino rats as subjects to test the effects of GM corn and soy over time increments of 30, 60 and lastly 90 days. In each case, the transgenic materials were shown to have deleterious effects on the rats, altering enzyme production and damaging their genes. Increases in cellular damage were also observed, as there was an increase in the ratios of DNA fragments indicating liver damage. “The results of all parameters evaluated in our investigation were consistent and confirm that the GM diet fed to rats for 30, 60, or 90 days has deleterious histopathological and histochemical impacts,” reads the study’s abstract. If you damage your liver by eating a type of food, what else is affected? By eating GM soya beans it can lead to miscarriages and birth defects.Dangers of glyphosate: Glyphosate is an active ingredient used in conjunction with many GMO crops such as soya beans. Glyphosate is responsible for the disruption of the delicate hormonal balance of the female reproductive cycle. glyphosate is toxic to the placenta, which is responsible for delivering vital nutrients and removing waste products from mother to baby. If the placenta has been damaged or destroyed, the result can be a miscarriage. Children who are born to mothers who have been exposed to even a small amount of glyphosate can have serious birth defects can result.
Evaluation: The claim, “Genetically Modified (GM) foods do not affect our health in any way” has been proven wrong as there is evidence that GM foods such as soya beans affect our health in a hazardous and unnatural way. The internet is filled with websites supporting the fact that GM foods are harmful, by leading to toxemia and liver damage. It also can cause hormonal disruption and miscarriages. A more Healthier and less dangerous alternative would be Organic foods. Organic foods are higher in nutrients, free from neurotoxins, which are toxins that are damaging to the brain and nerve cells. Organic farms are also safer for farm workers, research at the Harvard school of public health found that 70% increase in Parkinson’s disease among people exposed to pesticides (a substance used for destroying insects or other organisms harmful to cultivated plants)
Conclusion: Do GM soya beans cause more severe and/or anaphylactic reactions than non-GM soya beans? Genetically modified soya beans can create a new set of allergen and allergic reactions, specifically to those individuals who are already enormously sensitive. Also, Native genes could be deleted, mutated, permanently turned on or off, and hundreds may change their levels of protein expression. This could increase existing allergens, or produce a new, unknown allergen. GM soya beans cause more severe anaphylactic reactions than non-GM soya beans.
Reference List:
Care2, Negative health effects of soy, Available at: https://www.care2.com/greenliving/negative-health-effects-of-soy.html
Exposure To Environmental Hazards,2003, Genetically Modified Organism, Available at: http://enhs.umn.edu/current/5103/gm/harmful.htmlHealth Research Funding, Apr 6, 2014, Genetically Modified Soybeans Pros and Cons, Available at: https://healthresearchfunding.org/genetically-modified-soybeans-pros-cons/XiaoZhi Lim, April 30, 2014, Is glyphosate, used with some GM crops, dangerously toxic to humans?, Available at: https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2014/04/30/is-glyphosate-used-with-some-gm-crops-dangerously-toxic-to-humans/care2, 15 Reasons to Eat Organic Food, Available at: https://www.care2.com/greenliving/15-reasons-to-eat-organic-food.htmlJeffrey Smith, July 08, 2010, Genetically Engineered Soybeans May Cause Allergies, Available at: https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/07/08/genetically-engineered-soybeans-may-cause-allergies.aspxChristina Sarich, January 2, 2015, New Study Finds GMO Soy Toxic to Kidneys, Liver, and Reproduction, Available at: http://naturalsociety.com/new-study-finds-gmo-soy-toxic-kidneys-liver-reproduction/
