Genetically Modified Crops also known as GMO’s is when a “living things whose DNA has been altered, often with the addition of a gene from a distant species, to produce a desired trait.” (Greggor Ilagan).  So the BIG question is, is it good or healthy to eat and cultivate food with GMO’s? This is very broad question, because there are scientists that say that it’s not healthy and that is harmful due to the consequences that can bring.

For example that this caused tumors in rats, cancer in rats, a rise in childhood allergies, genetic contamination, overuse of pesticides and the disappearance of butterflies and bees around the vegetation. In the other hand papaya farmers from Kona Hawaii said that thanks to the GMO’s, plantations have been saved, due to the engineered variety that saved their fruit from a devastating disease. Even though farmers said that it saved their plantation, crops with GMO’s are banned from the island, with the exception of the papaya and the island dairy to feed the cows. If plantations and crops are found to be genetically modified crops there is a penalty of $1,000 per day. I find this to be a good way to regulate and reduce the use of pesticides used in food.

Now we ask ourselves, How do we even realize if we are buying food products containing GMO’s? How do we even raise awareness to this issue?

Most of the times the answer is no. We do not realize whether the products we are buying contain GMO’s; but as we have the habit if checking nutritional facts, including calories, we should also have the habit of checking whether any food products has certain preservatives that classify as GMOs. Even though there has a lot of research done by scientists and nutritionists we still have the issue of people not knowing that there are eating GMO’s and what consequences does this bring to their body.  This is why Supermarkets should require their clients and suppliers to clearly state if their product has GMO’s in their packaging. In the past few years most super markets has taken this as a serious course of action because more and more people are realizing the health dangers of eating products with preservatives. Supermarkets now a days are not concerned to much about loosing profits since there is a trend in society of going organic and more health conscience. Supermarkets such as Trader Joe’s, Milams  or Wholefoods  are proof of a successful businesses that has established strict health requirements and that are solely based in selling organic/healthy with no GMO’s products.

In my opinion there should do more research and projects to see until what extent this actually hurts and what consequences it brings to anyone consuming the product. There should be more people like Greggor Ilagan and Margaret Wille with their anti-GMO movement. Nature shouldn’t be altered because through centuries humans and animals have survived with no alteration to food and there is no reason why start now if it brings more consequences. It is true that population is growing fast, but there are other options to address the issue of need for food.