Fruits and vegetable numbering to identify genetaically modified products

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Comment by Dhansukh Lavji Gala on June 4, 2012 at 19:42

Hi Laxbhai,

When we buy products in a store we may have some control as to what to buy and what not to buy. Organic foods do taste better, and one has to pay additional price to get it. Regular food are cheaper. Here are the pros & Con about GMFoods

Pros Of Genetically Modified Foods

There are several benefits that have been linked to genetically modified foods, including:

• Resistance to disease: Genes can be modified to make crops more resilient when it comes to disease, especially those spread through insects. This can lead to higher crop yields, which many experts argue can help to feed people in developing countries.
• Cost: Because foods can be more resistant to disease, it reduces the cost necessary for pesticides and herbicides. And although genetically modified seeds are a more costly investment initially, this reduction in cost along with fewer lost crops leads to more profits. In many cases, that lower cost is passed onto the consumer through lower food prices.
• Quality: Some genetically modified foods, particularly fruits and veggies, have a longer shelf life than natural products.
• Taste: Some people claim that genetically modified foods have a better taste. In some cases, the genes can be altered in order to improve taste, although this is still one factor that varies from person to person.
• Nutritional content: Foods are often genetically modified in order to increase their nutritional content. This is especially helpful for certain populations where a specific nutrient is lacking in the local diet.

Cons Of Genetically Modified Foods

Although there are some benefits to genetically modified foods, there are some risks that have been associated with these foods. Some of these risks include:

• Allergens and toxins: Some genetically modified foods may contain higher levels of allergens and toxins, which can have negative effects on the personal health of those who eat them. This may be especially dangerous for people with serious food allergies.
• Antibiotic resistance: Because genetically modified foods are often developed to fight off certain pesticides and herbicides, there may be an increased risk that people who eat those foods may be more resistant to antibiotics.
• New diseases: Viruses and bacteria are used in the process of modifying foods, which means that there is a possibility that they could cause the development of a new disease.
• Nutritional content: Not all genetically modified foods are changed to increase their nutritional content. Instead, these foods may actually lose nutritional content in the process of altering their genetic makeup.
• Loss of biodiversity: Genetically modified foods could potentially cause damage to other organisms in the ecosystems where they are grown. If these organisms are killed off, it leads to a loss of biodiversity in the environment while also putting other organisms at risk by creating an unstable ecosystem.

But once we go out and eat at restaurants, parties, and friends homes or on a roadside stand especially in India, we do not know what we may be consuming.

This raises an awareness, and one have to choose what's best for them.