Eliminating Genetically Modified Foods Essay

What get alongs to mind when reading the address he rednessitary pass or group B thurigiensis (abbreviated Bt)? I envision laboratories and science experiments, when in reality these words atomic number 18 cerebrate to the intellectual nourishment we tucker out ever soy day. What near Ameri stinkpots do non k nowadays is the threat that cistrontic completelyy circumscribed viands breaks to our communities. PLU should do everything in its power to ensure that its students and ability members atomic number 18 non capable to genetic tout ensembley limited foods and creases that sacrifice been protected with the usage of Bt that has been artifici eithery incorporated into crops, at least while eating on campus.We also need to cultivate those individuals approximately the truths of genetic limiting and how it idler likelyly harm the lives of our generation and those to come. After all, PLUs slogan is educating for lives of paying attention inquiry, service, le adership and wangle for a nonher(prenominal) people for their communities and for the earth. If we flock stand up aw atomic number 18ness of genetic modification on campus, we can help spread the impressiveness of eliminating it to the rest of our community.Researchers suffer of late demonstrate that genetically special foods have more(prenominal)(prenominal) baggage than advertised, baggage such as the risk of formation of allergies, exposure to toxins in herbicides, and a significant reduction in nutritionary value. The genetic modification of crops began in the 1980s and has been growing in popularity ever since. In 1994, researchers successfully genetically limited love applees for human consumption. The genetic modification composite deleting a gene which bring aboutd the enzyme polygalacturonase which helps in harvest softening.This meant that the tomato plantes could advanced(a)n on the vine just now non spoil by the time they r each(prenominal)ed the memory (Tomatoes). Tomatoes ar no longer genetically change, but argon instead cast score to postp unitary ripening when the green tomato is surchargeed they ar then taken to a processing plant and artificially gassed with ethene until they ar the rosy-red skin tones of a ripe tomato (Estabrook p. x). Seeing the words gassed and ethylene in the selfsame(prenominal) context as human consumption seems pertaining. Unfortunately, many an(prenominal) Americans are unaware of how their food has been treated when they are overwhelming it.Some produce is excessively good to be true be possess they seem perfect, without a blemish or bruise, not to mention free from flavor. But, I now know that this is due to gasses that act as a sort of ease up-up. The tomatoes in PLUs commons are unsatisfactory in taste, but impeccable in call of looks. This leads me to think that PLU is buying out of season, gassed tomatoes that are bred to be green, as opposed to fall apart quality positi veally crowing produce. This brings nutritional value into question. In a workplace conducted by the U. S.Department of market-gardening, 100 grams of novel tomato today has 30 portion slight vitamin C, 30 percent less thiamin, 19 percent less niacin, and 62 percent less calcium than it did in the 1960s, not to mention fourteen multiplication as much sodium (Estabrook p. x). Who would have thought that an individuals peddle rocketing levels of sodium was not only from McDonalds french fries, but also from what they thought of as a wellnessy alternative, a tomato bought from the grocery store. Parents are unknowingly purchasing these tomatoes with the intention of feeding their children whateverthing healthy, but in reality they are cosmosness undermined by the U.S. Agricultural System. What really is genetic modification? It can be defined as organisms that have had specific changes introduced into their DNA by genetic engineering techniques (Genetically circumscribed) . According to confederate Professor Romey Haberle, these types of genetic engineering techniques entangle the usage of either a gene gun or a inseparable vector, which sounds just as bad as the ethylene gas previously stated. A gene gun is just that, a gun. Its purpose is to inject cells with specific genetic information into plants or other cells. immanent vector is the usage of DNA cells as a means of transportation into a plants cells. The DNA cells consider other specific and modified cells that are foreign to the plant in which it is being injected. These two types of genetic engineering are subroutine to produce specific plants that can have special immunities to certain wormicides, or even to alter the crops general composition. Guns and internal vectors are the just about common ship canal of studying and performing genetic modification in todays country origination. type B thurigiensis (Bt) is an sucking louseicide with unusual decorousties that make it usefu l for pest control in certain situations (W. S. Cranshaw). An insecticide is a poison designed for insects. In the past it was normally sprayed over fields in an stew to reduce the amount of crops lost to insects. in that location has recently been in ontogenesis in the amount of crops that have this toxin genetically modified to into its DNA, making it impossible to wash off or get rid of. Unfortunately, the crops fight down the effects but the toxin is nevertheless submit on crops as they grow and are picked.Bt works by producing proteins that react with the cells of the gut lining deep down insectsthese proteins then deactivate the digestive system, and the infected insect bread feeding within hours (W. S. Cranshaw). In short, Bt causes the insect to die from starvation since their digestive tract is unable to digest. This makes me question the safety of use this product within proximity of worldly concern since it specifically attacks the gut lining of the digesti ve system. An unfortunate incident with Bt in the Philippines most caused 100 members of a community to rifle ill.A crop within nigh proximity to their area of living had been sprayed with Bt. This crop was then pollinated, filling the air with pollen. The townspeoples people began to show symptoms of headaches, dizziness, perfect stomach pain, vomiting, chest pains, fever, and allergies plus respiratory, enteric and skin reactions. Trying to get to the get back of the problem, blood tests proved that 39 of the victims showed an anti-body reception to the Bt-toxin. This means that the Bt toxin had traveled from the crops to their internal systems. different villagers also encountered animal deaths from the same problems (Lendman p. 7).This shows that Bt is not suitable for human consumption or human contact. My concern is that PLU will barter for and serve food that has this same toxin present. Yes, the chances of this hap are rare, but we can use up the risk altogether by purchasing non-genetically modified produce that has not been open to the Bt toxin. PLUs dining services do a great job of fling fresh and healthy foods for all meals of the day. separately menu is clearly labelled as to whether its food is all natural grown without fertilizers or pesticides, locally grown, vegan free from all animal products, vegetarian, or organic.However, organic is seldom seen. The most common labels seen are the locally grown and all natural labels, but it is usually only next to the cook or sliced chicken breast. PLU should make an effort to move away from genetically modified foods and begin advertising the elimination of engineered foods on the menus. We could do this by allotting more of our food budget to buying organically grown food. We know that to be labeled as organic a erect has to adapt to specific regulations such as not utilizing pesticides or other pernicious preservatives and of course, to stay away from genetically modified seeds or p lants.I believe that most PLU students are aware of the benefits of organically grown produce but I do not think they are enlightened as to the benefits of eating non-genetically modified foods. PLU recently had food and water seminars, these seminars present a perfect opportunity to speak and tutor about the negatives of eating genetically modified food in order to educate them to help others and make the office decisions for our earth. near PLU students are interested in the surround and doing what we can to ensure sustainability, this includes the usage of bruising pesticides to our environment.By eating organic we can make a small extend to in reducing the amount of non-organic produce bought and distributed. We also reduce the possibility of go through these same pesticides that pose a threat to our atmosphere by avoiding them all together. By educating the students at PLU about the potential hazards that genetically modified food can present we can influence and encoura ge the right decisions to be made, the decision of going organic and avoiding genetic modification at all costs.The controversy of golden rice is one that has caused much disagreement within the world of genetic modification. Golden rice is a genetically engineered grain that is being used to help fight vitamin A lack in the developing world, a illness that contributes to the deaths of 8 million young children in the world (Ronald). Although this statistic demonstrates the drastic improvement of the general health in the most underdevelop parts of the world, it fails to include the massive changes in the natural functioning of a plants DNA. indwelling genes can be mutated, deleted, permanently sour on or off and the inserted gene can become truncated, fragmented, mixed with other genes, inverted or multiplied, and the GM protein it produces whitethorn have unintended characteristics (Lendman p. 2) that could compromise the health of the individual or community consuming it. Res earchers have failed to imply the potential destructive effects on gut function, colorful function, kidney function, the immune system, endocrine system, blood composition, sensitised response and even the potential to cause cancer because of the mutilated DNA that is being ingested by our bodies every time we eat genetically modified foods.Researchers are so quick to glorify the one added nutrient to golden rice that they forget, or quite choose to not advertise the uncomely and undesired side effects that could come from eating rice that has a multifactorial and unnatural DNA. Yes, vitamin A deficiency is a real and prominent problem in todays underdeveloped nations, but solving the problem with genetically modify golden rice presents the risks of forming allergies, being exposed to toxins such as pesticides, and ultimately cause cancer.Instead of investing most of our resources and funds into genetically modifying vitamin A into rice, we could donate it to charities tha t show food to those underdeveloped countries that are innocent and are in need of proper nutrition. Allergies seem to be more and more common in todays society. I too, have been directly impacted. integrity of my best friends from my junior amply and high school years has a pernicious peanut and soy sauce allergy. She constantly carries around an epinephrine auto-injector, abbreviated epi-pen, that she is required to use if she comes into contact with any kind of nut.We chance ourselves constantly reading labels and isolating what she can and cannot eat, a practice which is tedious and inconvenient. Her soybean allergy is not as common as her peanut allergy, but it is still concerning. She had an experience of eating an ice plectrum popsicle, in which she took two bites and her lips started to swell with red hives. Even after carefully analyzing the cistron list, she still had a reaction to some kind of soybean that had been present within one of the ingredients.Soybeans a re present in many foods, and 93% of the soybeans used in the U. S.are genetically modified (Genetically Modified). They are created to withstand herbicides used to garbage down weeds. This means that 93% of the soybeans used in food across America have the herbicides glyphosate or glufosinate within them since they are modified to resist the offensive effects that the weeds encounter when they are sprayed with a herbicide, the same herbicide that is designed to kill insects and weeds. Our bodies are not meant to ingest these harmful herbicides, so some children react adversely to soybeans that have been genetically altered. Nut allergies seem to be the most common allergy in todays communities.From 1997 to 2007, the prevalence of report food allergy improverd 18% among children under age 18 ( prevalence). This increase in food allergies seems to directly mime the pattern of genetically modified foods rise in popularity. Is this similitude ironic? I do not think so. PLUs abili ty to specifically mark the types of allergens present in each meal is very important to the hike of todays allergies that so many young adults are affected by. As of 2012 there are many surpass court cases and FDA investigation into genetically modified foods (Genetically Modified).There is obviously a concern for the welfare of our communities and the production of genetically modified foods, and PLU should take into consideration the recent increase in food allergies in children, the push for organically grown food, the lost nutrition, and the potential for cancer development. By educating the minds of PLU students about the harmful effects genetically modified food presents to society we can promote for lives of thoughtful inquiry, service, leadership and care both for others and for our planet. These contributors all add up to one outcome the reduction or elimination of genetically modified food in our diets.I do not want to pick up the baggage that genetically modified food carries, do you? Works Cited Cranshaw, W. S. Bacillus Thuringiensis. Colorado State University Extension. Dec. 2008. Web. 23 Mar. 2012. <http//www. ext. colostate. edu/pubs/insect/05556. html>. Estabrook, Barry. Tomatoland How Modern Industrial Agriculture Destroyed Our Most Alluring Fruit. Kansas metropolis Andrews McMeel, 2011. Print. Genetically Modified Food. 20 Mar. 2012. Web. 23 Mar. 2012. <http//en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Genetically_modified_food>. Lendman, Stephen. GlobalResearch.ca Centre for Research on Globalization. GlobalResearch. ca. 22 Feb. 2008.Web. 23 Mar. 2012. <http//www. globalresearch. ca/index. php? context=va>. Prevalence of Food Allergies in Todays World. 23 Mar. 2012. Web. 23 Mar. 2012. <http//allergicchild. com/prevalence. html>. Ronald, Pamela. What If organic fertiliser Farmers Joined Forces with Genetic Engineers? July 2008 35-38. Web. 19 Mar. 2012. Tomatoes. GMO Compass. 27 Nov. 2006. Web. 17 Apr. 2012. <http//www. gmo- compass. org/eng/grocery_shopping/fruit_vegetables/15. genetically_modified_tomatoes. html>.