Do you know, what is GM foods and how safe are they to eat? GM Stands for genetically modified. GM foods are food item that derived from Genetically Modified organisms. From first sight we can say Genetically Modified Foods are safe to eat, as they are made from plants modified by more traditional methods of plant breeding and they also endure testing that has never been required for food plants modified either by traditional breeding techniques or by mutagenesis. This Genetically modified Foods (Products) is made from Plants of certain crops like soyabean, corn, cotton, sugar-beet and many others.

Merging genes from diverse organisms is known as recombinant DNA technology, and the resulting organism is said to be "genetically modified," "genetically engineered," or "transgenic." GM products include medicines and vaccines, foods and food ingredients, feeds, and fibers. BT Cotton and BT brinjal are Particular types of GM foods. GM Food plants benefits comprise of being able to breed disease resistant crops and herbicide tolerant strains.  It can also be produced for including vitamin that may be deficient in some staple varieties.

Recently, Millions of people have consumed GM food and any side effects have not been observed, but it does not meant that new genetically modified foods are without risk. The possibility of long-term effects from genetically modified plants cannot be excluded and must be studied on a case-by-case basis.  Benefits of GM foods are diversified. Genetic engineering is a vital method used in crops to improve the number of nutrients, such as vitamins. Research is happening in prevention of vitamin A and iron deficiency. Removal of allergic proteins from peanuts is being studied.  Modification in genes results in increased yield with better quality and nutrients.

Risks of genetically modified foods include triggering of allergic reaction and toxicity. Stability of the transferred gene is questionable. Accidental hidden effect of the inserted gene is to be assessed. GM crops may intimidate biodiversity, reduce the wealth and variety of foods, and make farmers dependent on chemical and biotech companies, through the use of sterile seed or chemical products that would have to be purchased yearly.

In the Recent time government and Big Biotech say GM food is safe to eat, but with no trials performed on humans, what they call 'safe' and what we call 'safe' may be two very different things. But some experts and environmentalists have suggested that GM foods may trigger in the occurrence of food allergies all over the world. So according to them, avoid this as a matter of principle, transfer of genes from food sources commonly recognized as allergic is usually discourage. Now all genetically modified foods intended for sale in Australia and New Zealand must endure a safety assessment by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), an independent government agency.

GM Food Advantages 

Crops

• Improved taste and quality
• New products and growing techniques
• Reduced maturation time
• Increased nutrients, yields, and stress tolerance
• Improved resistance to disease, pests, and herbicides

Animals

• Increased resistance, productivity, hardiness, and feed efficiency
• Improved animal health and diagnostic methods
• Better yields of meat, eggs, and milk

Environment

• Bioprocessing for forestry products
• Better natural waste management
• Conservation of soil, water, and energy
• More efficient processing
• "Friendly" bioherbicides and bioinsecticides

Society

• Increased food security for growing populations

GM Food Disadvantages 

Safety

• Potential human health impacts, including allergens, transfer of antibiotic resistance markers, unknown effects
• Potential environmental impacts, including: unintended transfer of transgenes through cross-pollination, unknown effects on other organisms (e.g., soil microbes), and loss of flora and fauna biodiversity

Access and Intellectual Property

• Increasing dependence on industrialized nations by developing countries
• Domination of world food production by a few companies
• Biopiracy, or foreign exploitation of natural resources

Ethics

• Violation of natural organisms' intrinsic values
• Tampering with nature by mixing genes among species
• Objections to consuming animal genes in plants and vice versa
• Stress for animal

Labeling

• Not mandatory in some countries (e.g., United States)
• Mixing GM crops with non-GM products confounds labeling attempts

Society

• New advances may be skewed to interests of rich countries

List of genetically modified foods:

• Frito-Lay Fritos Corn Chips
• Kellogg's Corn Flakes
• General Mills Total Corn Flakes Cereal
• Post Blueberry Morning Cereal
• Heinz 2 Baby Food
• Enfamil ProSobee Soy Formula
• Bravos Tortilla Chips
• Quick Loaf Bread Mix
• Ultra Slim Fast
• Similac Isomil Soy Formula
• Nestle Carnation Alsoy Infant Formula
• Quaker Chewy Granola Bars
• Nabisco Snackwell's Granola Bars
• Ball Park Franks
• Duncan Hines Cake Mix
• Gardenburger
• Boca Burger Chef Max's Favorite
• Morning Star Farms Better'n Burgers
• Green Giant Harvest Burgers (now called Morningstar Farms)
• McDonald's McVeggie Burgers
• Quaker Yellow Corn Meal
• Light Life Gimme Lean
• Aunt Jemima Pancake Mix
• Alpo Dry Pet Food
• Ovaltine Malt Powdered Beverage Mix
• Betty Crocker Bac-O's Bacon Flavor Bits
• Old El Paso Taco Shells
• Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix

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