Corn: Genetically modified organisms

Corn is among the most genetically modified agricultural products in the United States. The current data suggest that ninety percent of corn in the market is genetically modified. Specifically, the corn strains have been genetically modified using the bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis to control pests and insects. The bacteria enables the corn to produce insecticide, which can be “washed” away during harvest to avoid human contamination. Moreover, corn has at least thirty-two thousand genomes aligned in ten chromosomes. Coherently, eighty-five percent of the corn genome has been modified, hence providing it with the necessary protection against various insects and harmful pesticides.  

Safety

Genetically modified corn is considered to be safe for human consumption. This is consistent with the study’s findings conducted to examine more than six thousand researches on the safety of corn. The results indicated that genetically modified corn does not increase crop yield but has more health benefits than traditional corn. Nonetheless, it is imperative to consider the growing number of independent researchers, which have cited that the BT bacteria in corn has negative heath issues on humans, such as causing blindness.

To minimize on the spread of misinformation regarding genetically modified corn, the federal government, through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, eliminated the need for discourse or labeling corn (Varcoe, 2018). Thus, producers of genetically modified corn are not required to able their corn product. Therefore, there is no way to know if a person is eating genetically modified corn or not.

Consumption

Yes, consumers should be told if they are consuming genetically modified corn or products.  Personally feel that genetically modified food should not be produced in large quantified as they are responsible for most lifestyle diseases. My position would not change if I were a vegetarian or an organic gardener, or a major food chain owner.

Reference

Varcoe, A. R. (2018). From GMO Litigation to GMO Disclosure Regulation: What’s Ahead for Disputes over Genetically Engineered Crops?. Natural Resources & Environment, 33(1), 26-30.