Explain the Concerns of Genetically Modified (GM) Foods

The benefits  of  genetically modified foods . However,  in  the context of genetically modified foods, concern from environmental, food safety and ethical angles have been raised. Further, concerns related  to  nutrient aspect  of GM  foods, elimination, loss, reduction or increase  in anti-nutrition  due to genetic modification and increase in anti-nutritional factors need to  be  addressed. Issues of concern to environment include the capability of the  GM  organism  to escape and introduce  the engineered gene into wild population (cross breeding)  through pollen drift leading to  loss of biodiversity. The transgenic material from GM maize cultivated  by  a farmer could  be  transferred  in  non-GM maize cultivated  in  the neighboring farmer's field without his knowledge. There could be the possibility of development of resistance in the target organism. This is particularly true for cotton Concerns from the health angle include toxicity, allergen city, nutritional imbalance, possible  gene  transfer such as antibiotic resistant  gene  to gut flora which could adversely affect the therapeutic  efficacy of orally administered antibiotics, unintentional effects  in  the  form  of acquisition of new. traits or loss of existing traits and use  of unapproved  varieties like Star  Link  maize. Concerns of ethical nature have been raised from vegetarian groups on using animal genes in plants.

Thus, the risk and uncertainties surrounding the process of genetic engineering and the resulting GM product has resulted in considerable public debate and consumer groups have been vociferous in demanding  labeling of GM products.