Controversy In Genetically Modified Foods

            Nowadays, technology is advancing at surprising speeds. We can see highly technical implementations everywhere in daily life, such as communication, entertainment or even diet. Genetically modified foods become more and more common in the market, if you have bought some corn, soy or canola oil recently, they may be genetically modified.

                                   (This picture is referencing from Glogster website)

            Genetic modification is done by isolating particular genes and transferring them in to certain species so that we can create crops with desired traits. With this technology people not only can add desired nutrients and vitamins into the crops, but also improve the resistance towards pests which would lead to an increase in productivity.     

            Genetic modification seems like a very beneficial technology but has been heavily debated against. Some consumers think there is no evidence to prove that genetically modified crops are one hundred percent safe. The growing concern of this technology may have some unexpected and negative effects on human health. For example the website ProQuest demonstrates that it is because genetic modifications insert new genes into crops, it may cause some new allergens for some people. Since most of the genetically modified foods in the market are not labeled, we have no way to differentiate the organic foods and the genetically modified foods. Even though most of the consumers are indifferent to genetically modified foods, some consumers believe it is necessary for producers to label the genetically modified foods, so that the consumers who have concerns about the genetically modified foods can be aware and make informed decision. 

            In my opinion, genetic modification technology is a great improvement for agriculture. Insects and pests cause great financial loss, genetically modification technology deals with this problem directly since it can improve resistance to certain pests. Genetic modification technology can also increase productivity by changing the genes and raising the adaptive ability of the crops, so that they can be grown in formerly inhabitable places. In some countries healthy foods are very scarce and the nutrition is lacking due to different reasons, such as pollution and weather. Genetically modified corps ensures the nutrition of the food. Even though it may cause some unexpected problems, I believe that they should carry out extensive tests on new genetically modified foods before sale in the market so that it can help to eliminate these kinds of problems.

            In conclusion, since several consumers still have concerns about this kind of high tech food, it is necessary to label the genetically modified foods that sell in the market. It can protect the consumers and make them have more confidence on the safety of their foods.

Watch out for products that lack credibility

       There are many “good” and “bad” websites on the internet and a prime example of one that lacks credibility is the Ultimate Colon Cleanse program. This is a diet pill program, which demonstrates many advantages about the pills they are trying to sell, but they seem less credible since there is a lack of research and evidence behind their claims.

The website states that it is an easy way to lose 20 lbs. in 30 days by using the Ultimate Colon Cleanse program. Losing 20lbs in a month can be argued how unhealthy it is but it is also very appealing to individuals trying to lose weight. It is difficult for our bodies to adapt to such an immense change of the weight in a short period of time. Some sources from the ABC News website that counter the diet pill program say that “it also said customers should look out for products claiming users will lose more than three pounds a week for four weeks or longer. Any weight loss faster than that rate is unsafe.” (ABC News, 2008)

           In addition, this website talks about how effectively the pills work but does not provide any specifications of the pill. We have no way to know how it works or whether there are some harmful ingredients in it that makes it effective.

           Also, the website shows that we can lose weight by taking these combinations of various pills without exercise and dieting. “‘There’s no secret remedy that has been buried for all these decades. I promise you, if there were something good, we'd all know about it. It would be on the front page of the newspaper. We'd all be using it and they wouldn't have to promote it on television,’ said George Washington University Weight Management Program medical director Arthur Frank.” (ABC News, 2008)

            Furthermore, there is no successful case or experimental test and results that support the effects of this weight loss program. Besides, the author is unknown on the website thus the pill and claims lack credibility. We are unsure who wrote the article and it lacks a publish date, so it is hard to know whether the information it provides is updated or bias.

    To sum it all up, the Ultimate Colon Cleanse Program sounds very appealing to many people but is potentially very harmful or even dangerous since their claims don’t come from a credible source. So when looking for a product or program I believe that looking at the title first is important to see if it’s too good to be true, and looking for advertisements and credible sources on the website. In the end it is up to the consumer to decide.

Work Cited

ABC News, (2008, Jan 2). Can a Diet Pill Work Without Diet or Exercise?. Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/OnCall/story?id=4074113&page=1. (2011, June 12)