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Genetically Modified Food: It’s Importance in Human Life

Modification of genes is one of the most significant developments of recent times that allow determination of a particular set of genes, copied and inserted into some other crop plants with a high degree of specificity. With continuous change by mutation and recombination genes enable selection and breeding of crops consisting of the most desirable traits such as flavour or yield. In regard to food safety, genetically modified crops are at par with traditional crop breeds, although only few of them have been subjected to prior safety assessment yet considered being safe for consumption. However a thorough and advanced safety testing procedure that considers stepwise and holistic approach has been applied for GM foods. Moreover, both history and risk free use of the mother crop and that of the gene donor is also considered in detail. A comprehensive safety assessment is administered based on the concept known as ‘substantial equivalence’ which is embodied in every guidelines of international crop biotechnology. 

This furnishes the chassis for a relative approach for identification of resemblances and distinction between the GM group of product and its comparator with noted history of impregnable use. Constructing a specific outline of every step in the process of transformation, from mother to new crop, and by rigorous evaluation of the importance of the safety procedures, a detailed matrix of facts are constructed that help conclude safety of GM food or feed as compared to its conventional counterpart. Application of this approach with over 50 GM crops accepted worldwide, food and feed derived from genetically modified crops are considered safe and nutritionally beneficial as compared to traditional crops. Absence of any hostile effects occurring from consumption of GM crops cultivated on over 300 million cumulative acres for the last 5 years clarify the safety inferences.

Public criticism to genetically modified (GM) crops is widely considered due to public's ignorance towards the safety of the GM foods. With scientific analysis concluding no distinctive risks from GM crops, a policy of precise risk management from genuine sources has been recommended. Data from the Euro barometer survey of some qualitative interviews on biotechnology explored that it is not so much the perception of risks as the absence of benefits is the basis of the widespread rejection of GM foods and crops by the European public. Some people consider both the risks and benefits however; others consider benefit to dominate over risk.