Dangers of Genetically Altered Foods Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Dangers of Genetically Altered Foods - Essay Example However, the studies revealed that it was not the added lectin that was responsible for these side effects, but the engineering process itself. This is because a control group that was fed with potatoes containing the substance was not affected as they had not undergone the genetic modification processes (Pusztai, p.1). According to the researcher’s studies, food genetics should therefore not be altered for the purpose of making them disease-resistant or improving production to feed the hungry people since the process may bring adverse effects on humans. Regulation and testing of the process of modifying foods genetically has inefficiently been carried out in the past with interventions coming from various interested parties. For instance, in order to quell the public furor that was caused by the researcher’s studies, Philip James, a director at Rowett Institute, fired Pusztai because he had been influenced to take the action by a biotech firm located in the U.S. throug h a $224,000 grant they had received (Pusztai, p.2). In the U.S., their administration on food along with drugs has slowly drifted away from their regulation that food companies within the country should ensure the safety of their products before releasing them to the consumers. The foods are currently being introduced in a stealthy and quiet manner according to reports despite the public’s lack of comprehension concerning the risks that are posed by these foods. It is only due to the criticism that these foods have received across the nation and on the international arena that the American regulators are now thinking of creating new regulations to govern their manufacture (Pusztai, p.3). The production of genetically modified foods should not be advocated since they have many disadvantages that they come with. This is mainly because the engineering may bring imprecise technologies, different side