CONS OF GMO

Cons

genetically engineering foods is a relatively new practice, little is known about the long-term
effects and safety.This section discusses the evidence for a range of drawbacks that people
often associate with GMO foods.

1.Allergic reactions

Some people believe that GMO foods have more potential to trigger allergic reactions. This is
because they may contain genes from an allergen which is a food that prompts an allergic
reaction.The World Health Organization discourage genetic engineers from using DNA from
allergens unless they can prove that the gene itself does not cause the problem.

2.Cancer

PROOF : A paper that was first published in 2013 linked the herbicide that is found in Roundup-
tolerant crops to cancer development in rats. This paper was retracted by the initial journal that
published it for having invalid or misleading information, but it has been republished by other
journals since the retraction. This has caused many to believe that consuming GMO corn could
be hazardous to their health.They argue that because the disease is caused by mutations in
DNA, it is dangerous to introduce new genes into the body.
3.Antibacterial resistance

There is concern that genetic modification, which can boost a crop's resistance to disease or
make it more tolerant to herbicides, could affect the ability of people to defend against illness.

There is a small chance that the genes in food can transfer to cells in the body or bacteria in the
gut. Some GMO plants contain genes that make them resistant to certain antibiotics. This
resistance could pass on to humans.

There is growing concern globally that people are becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics.
There is a chance that GMO foods could be contributing to this crisis.

4.Outcrossing

Outcrossing refers to the risk of genes from certain GMO plants mixing with those of
conventional crops.There have been reports of low levels of GMO crops approved as animal
feed or for industrial use being found in food meant for human consumption.

PROOF : Hence, it is confirmed by the World Health Organisation that GMO related food
might be unsafe for humans to consume.

5.Genetically modified (GM) crops have not been proven safe for human consumption
through human clinical trials.

PROOF : Robert Gould, MD, a pathologist at the UC San Francisco School of Medicine, said,
"the contention that GMOs pose no risks to human health can't be supported by studies that
have measured a time frame that is too short to determine the effects of exposure over a
lifetime."