| Genetically-modified (GM) food crops are a | | | | environment. While some GMO produce will be |
| contentious issue for many. While some believe | | | | able to better fend off specific pests and |
| they will save humanity from pollution and disease | | | | diseases, this tampering could threaten |
| associated with conventionally-grown foods, | | | | biodiversity. Of most concern is the possibility that |
| others question the wisdom of playing with the | | | | the bioinsecticides may actually kill off beneficial |
| basic structure of our food, concerned that such | | | | insects. An insect resistant strain of corn called B.t. |
| meddling will have untold health consequences. | | | | that was used first in 1999 is suspected of being |
| Although at this point, scientists are still unsure of | | | | lethal to monarch butterfly caterpillars. |
| the direct health repercussions of eating | | | | Additionally, pests and weeds may become |
| genetically modified organisms (GMOs), they are | | | | resistant to inbred bioinsecticides and biopesticides. |
| sure that GM foods can increase rates of allergic | | | | This may inevitably increase the need for |
| reactions. That’s because genes of common | | | | pesticides and herbicides instead of having the |
| allergens are often combined with other plant | | | | intended benefit of decreasing their use. Not only |
| food, potentially passing the allergen onto the | | | | that, the genes of these modified food crops |
| newly created food. Allergic substances from the | | | | may spread, via wind and water, to non-GMO |
| proteins found in eggs, fish and shellfish, peanuts, | | | | crops. |
| milk, wheat, and tree nuts—proteins that are | | | | Whether we like it or not, the GMO-age is upon |
| the cause of more than 90 percent of food | | | | us. GM technology may be found in your corn, |
| allergies—can be combined with new strains of | | | | soybeans, papayas, zucchini, and tomatoes. The |
| corn, for instance, making this once innocuous | | | | US is the biggest grower of GM crops with nearly |
| food a potentially deadly food for those with | | | | 60 million hectares being cultivated with these |
| allergies to these substances. The US Food and | | | | seeds. You can avoid GM foods by choosing |
| Drug Administration has attempted to address | | | | organic foods. If you’re not sure, the |
| this issue by requiring that new GM organisms be | | | | four-digit PLU Code on your produce will be |
| free of any allergenic substances on the main | | | | preceded by a “9” if it is organic. If it is a |
| allergen list. | | | | GMO product, it will be preceded by an |
| Health issues aside, GM foods come with other | | | | “8” instead. |
| consequences, most specifically for the | | | | |