Genetically Modified Foods

Genetically modified food basically means that the respective plants or vegetables have been altered genetically using non-natural means during their development period. Traditional harvested food presents certain characteristics, that may or may not be revealed by the modified sort, but in general the genetic modifications are done to prevent or protect the growing plants from various contaminating agents.

There are plenty of voices out there that cry out against genetically modified food and they bring arguments that might seem pretty solid to some. The truth is that the modification procedure does not involve injecting the young plants with harmful substances as some say. If any substances are used, they are under the form of ‘plant vaccines’, just like we vaccinate our kids in order to protect them from certain harmful and destroying diseases. Not all genetic modifications aim only to protect plants against a certain type of insects or other destroying factors. There are ways to make fruits grow without the summer heat or to make apples bloom in September. Their specific temperature and climate requirements can and have been altered genetically, using a strong gene from another plant or organism that can survive and develop in such conditions.

Genetically modified food usually presents all the characteristics of normal food, but sometimes this altering can mean huge vegetables, tomatoes that are modified to grow until they reach the size of a melon or even beans that are as big as a human hand. Nowadays, they started a variety of very small fruits and vegetables, genetically modified, so small that you can fit 10 tomatoes into a normal water glass.

These vegetables and fruits are still a new addition to our world, as the first genetically modified food appeared in the late 1994. It is normal to feel the controversy around this subject, as people tend to accept new things very hard, especially when it comes to altering nature, even if it is for a good cause. Some even say that genetically modified food will permanently change and destroy the food chain, because some species of insects will be left without means of surviving in the near future.

Producers found that even if modified vegetables elevate debates, people still consume them, especially if they look and taste different. Hypermarkets sell sweet potatoes and purple potatoes, huge grapes, pears that have all the outside characteristics of an apple but don’t taste like one, watermelons that are yellow inside and the variety goes on and on.