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GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOOD

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www.vigyanvarta.com Vol-1 Issue-3 Das and Bhartia (2020)

Genetically Modified Foods (GMF)

“A new concept to the Food World”
Sagarika Das1 and Sourabh Bhartia2
1
Department of Food Engineering & Technology, Central Institute of Technology, Kokrajhar,
783370, Assam, India.
2
Department of Food Processing & Technology, University Teaching Department - Atal Bihari
Vajpayee University, Bilaspur, 495001, Chhattisgarh, India.

Corresponding Author
Sagarika Das
Email: sagarikadas231096@gmail.com
OPEN ACCESS

Keywords

Allergy, Biotechnology, Genetically modified organisms (GMO), Genetically modified foods (GM-
food), Genetic manipulation, Disease resistance
How to cite this article:

Das, S. and Bhartia, S. 2020. Genetically Modified Foods (GMF) “A new concept to the Food World”.
Vigyan Varta 1(3): 41-44.

ABSTRACT
Food availability has been affected by growing global population and agricultural yields have
been poor due to unfavourable environmental conditions (climate change) and pests. Genetic
engineering has presented a promising solution for increased food production through the
invention of modified seeds (crops) that are resistant to drought and pests. The cultivation of
genetically modified (GM) crops on millions of hectares of lands and their injection into our
food chain is a huge global genetic experiment involving all living beings. Considering the fast
pace of new advances in production of genetically modified crops, consumers, farmers, and
policymakers worldwide are challenged to reach a consensus on a clear vision for the future of
world food supply. Although genetically modified food crops have been portrayed as a saviour
from starvation by a population, some individuals are of the opinion that genetically modified
foods are not to be trusted. Several harmful attributes have been tagged on genetically
modified foods and they include, tendency to boost antibiotics resistance, alterations of the
natural quality of food, toxic tendency, and allergenic tendency.

INTRODUCTION foreign genes inserted into their genetic codes.

GMOs have had specific changes introduced

G
enetically modified foods (GM Foods/
Biotech Foods) are foods derived from
genetically modified organisms
(GMO), Specifically, Genetically Modified
Crops. Genetically Modified foods have had
into their DNA by genetic engineering
techniques. Genes everyday by natural
mutation and recombination, creating new
biological variations. Humans have been
exploiting this for centuries, shuffling genes in

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www.vigyanvarta.com Vol-1 Issue-3 Das and Bhartia (2020)

increasingly systematic ways and using Health Organization and the Food and
extensive crossing and artificial selection to Agriculture Organization. Codex provides the
create many combinations they would never principles and guidelines used in assessing the
otherwise have occurred. safety of food derived from recombinant DNA
plants and permits governments and food
Potential benefits of Genetically Engineered
regulators the privilege to use these guidelines
Food include: -
in developing their regulatory mechanisms. The
attributes of Codex towards genetically
1. More nutritious food
modified foods have been perceived by Ethical
2. Tastier Food
consumers as heavily influenced by highly
3. Disease and drought-resistant plants
placed industries in the food, agricultural and
require fewer environmental resources
pharmaceutical sectors.
(water, fertilizer, etc.)
4. Decrease use of pesticides
5. Increase supply of food with reduced cost
and longer shelf-life
6. Faster growing plants and animals
7. Food with more desirable traits such as
potatoes that absorb less fat when fried
8. Medicinal foods that could be used as
vaccines or other medications.

Regulations for GM foods

The regulation of genetic engineering concerns

the approaches taken by governments to access
and manage the risk associated with the use of
genetic engineering technology and the
development and release of genetically
modified organisms (GMO). There are
differences in the regulation of GMOs between
countries. Regulation varies in each country
depending on the intended use of the products
of genetic engineering. For example, A crop not
intended for food use is generally not reviewed
by authorities responsible for food safety, wild
GM crops intended for use in human or animal
food are reviewed by such authorities.
Additionally, reviews governed the importation Canadian Food Inspection Agency: The
of GM commodities, as well as food needs guidelines were drawn from a consensus made
using GM commodities. from 3 consultations, since 1993:

Opinions of food regulators 1. Genetically engineered food will require

mandatory labelling if there is a health or
Codex stands on genetically modified foods: safety concern, I.e. from an allergen or a
The Codex Alimentarius Commission is an significant nutrient composition change, to
International organization responsible for the inform consumers of the
control of global food trade. They are made of allergens/changes.
other organizations which includes: The World

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2. Producers should ensure labelling is
understandable, truthful, and not
misleading.
3. Voluntary positive/negative labelling will
be permitted on the condition that the
claim is not misleading or deceptive and
the claim itself is factual.
Common GM food available in the market
Some estimates as many as 30,000 different
products on grocery store self are “modified.”
That is largely because many processed foods
contain soy.
Some of them are,
Rapeseeds, Honey, Cotton, Rice, Soybean,
Sugarcane, Tomatoes, Corn, Sweetcorn,
Potatoes, Papaya, Cottonseed oil, Tobacco,
Meat, Peas, Vegetable oil, Sugar beets, Dairy
products, Vitamins, etc.
Controversy
The key areas of controversy related two
genetically modified (GM) food related to GM
Foods are risk of harm from GM Foods,
whether GM Food should be labelled, the role
of government regulators, the effect of GM
crops on the environment, the impact of GM
crops for farmers, including farmers in
developing countries, the role of GM crops in
feeding the growing world population, and GM
crops as part of the industrial agriculture
system.
Advocacy group such as Greenpeace & World
Wild-life Fund have concerns that risks of GM
Food has not been adequately identified and
managed and have questioned the objectivity of
regulatory authorities. Opponents of food
derived from GMOs are concerned about the
safety of the food itself and wish it banned, or
at least labelled. They have concerns about the
objectivity of regulators and rigor of the
regulatory process, about contamination of the
non-GM Food supply, about effects of GMOs
on the environment, about industrial agriculture
Popular Article
Das and Bhartia (2020)
in general, and about the consolidation of
control of the food supply in companies that
make and sell GMOs especially in the
developing world. Some are concerned that GM
Technology tampers too deeply with nature.
Opinion concerning food genetic
modification
1.Arguments against food genetic
modification: GM-food products have been
feared for several reasons. Some of which
include, tendency to cause an antibiotic
resistance, alteration of natural food nutrient,
tendency to cause foot toxicity and tendency to
cause allergic reactions.
2. Antibiotic resistance: Marker genes enable
genetic engineers know when genetic materials
have been successfully transferred to a host
plant or animal. The use of antibiotics resistant
markers has been criticized for their ability to
transfer resistant traits to discuss causing
bacteria making them more virulent. It is feared
that resistant traits can be transferred to the
bacteria in the human gut and this might boost
their ability to withstand antibiotics treatment.
3. Tendency to cause food toxicity: Claims
have been made by some studies that
genetically modified foods may have hepatic,
pancreatic, renal and reproductive effects on
humans although these claims have been
labelled as scientifically meaningless by
industries and food regulators.
4. Tendency to cause food toxicity: Allergens
can easily be transferred from one food material
to another through gene modification. These are
also possibilities of creating new allergens that
can cause new allergic reactions if genes and
traits are forcefully combined.
Arguments supporting food genetic
modification
Some individuals have been supportive of food
genetic engineering for several reasons.
According to them, genetic engineering has
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been able to achieve the following: increased
food availability, improved self-life of food
improved nutritional quality of food and
biological defence against diseases and pests in
plants.
1. Increased food availability: One of the
reasons for the failure of agriculture and
shortage in food supply in many parts of the
world is pest control. The cultivation of
resistant crops will help the problems that
results to low yield and consequently amount to
increased availability of food.
2. Improved shelf-life: Fruits and vegetables
can be manipulated by genetic engineering to
last longer. The application of genetic
engineering has helped to avert massive food
wastage and expand trade opportunities.
3. Improved nutritional quality: The
problems of malnutrition in developing
countries have been dealt with through the help
of genetically modified Foods. Vitamin A
deficiency is a common disease in developing
countries. A brand for genetically modified rice
known as “Golden Rice” have been developed
to provide the required amount of vitamin A to
the body, which provides 50 percent of the
world's plant derived energy to our body.
4. Biological defence: Farmers have benefited
from seeds modified to withstand
environmental factors that limit crop
productivity. Genetic engineers have created
crops that can withstand droughts, resist
pesticides and herbicides.
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Das and Bhartia (2020)
CONCLUSION
Genetically modified foods have not been
scientifically proven to cause health
complications in humans. Even though several
literatures have stated scientific reasons why
genetically modified foods may be harmful,
there is either few or no known documented
cases of harmful effects of genetically modified
foods to humans. The strength of genetic
manipulation should not be underestimated,
cause the long-term effects of genetically
modified foods on humans will be an
interesting area of research focus.
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Girija, K and Radha, R.2013. Awareness of
Health Impacts of Genetically Modified
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