Is genetically modified food safe?

A: Good morning, everyone! I’m a reporter of the Wuhan TV Station. Now I’m in the institute of genetically modified food, here is Dr.B，she will tell us something about genetically modified food. Dr.B, can you explain what genetically modified is?

 

B: Sure, by “genetically modified” we mean these foods are made from crops which are not completely natural, but which have been altered in some way by genetic engineering.

 

A: Can you explain a bit more and give us some examples.

 

B: OK. You know the crops we usually have, say corn, or cotton, or potato, often suffer from a number of causes. Sometimes their yield is too low.

 

A: Yes, that’s a big problem. The world has a fast growing population and the area of cultivated land is decreasing, because people need more land for houses, factories, highways, and so on.

 

B: So it’s important to develop crops with high yields to feed the growing population, or people may die of starvation. And one way is to introduce some high-yield gene into a crop to enable it to produce more.

 

A: Wait a minute. You said “introduce some high-yield gene”, how can you do it?

 

B: Well, biologists over the years have developed ways to analyze the genes that make up a plant, and discovered which gene or genes can affect yield, resist pests, improve flavor, etc. We can, by means of genetic engineering, add a gene or genes that increase yields to a crop with low yields to improve it, or do other things to the crop to make it resistant to pests, or taste better.

 

A: So you mean genetic engineering can not only make crops yield more, it can also make crops resist pests, and even improve their taste?

 

B: Sure. And that’s exactly what many of my colleagues are working on.

 

A: Well, that’s really exciting! Now we hear every day our vegetables are not clean because we use too much insecticide. In fact people say we’re eating poison. Suppose we have a crop that resists pests, we don’t need to use insecticides which are toxic to human beings. If they taste better, and if they can be had all the year round, how nice our life would be? But is it still science fiction or reality?

 

B: No, it’s no longer science fiction, but part of our life. In America, for example, thirty percent of the corn and fifty percent of the soybean grown in the USA is genetically modified. Ninety percent of U.S. cattle are raised on growth factors that get into the beef. Fifty percent of the potatoes and tomatoes sold in the US are genetically modified.

 

A: So that’s good. But how about Europe?

 

B: In many European countries there is widespread concern over the safety of genetically modified foods.

 

A: Why are many European counties so concerned?

 

B: Because they think there may be grave problems of environment, health, safety, ethics, and so on.

 

A: Really? Is it so serious?

 

B: Yes. As a scientist I must admit genetically modified food involve great risks to humans, too. In fact in Europe they are called “Frankenstein foods” by many.

 

A: Frankenstein foods?

 

B: Frankenstein is a character in a novel. He was a scientist, very clever scientist. He created a monster, and this monster eventually killed him.

 

A: How terrible. So Frankenstein foods are like monsters that may kill the people who create them.

 

B: That’s the idea.

 

A: Can you explain? What are some of the risks?

 

B: You know when something enters our food chain, for example soybeans can be made into soy sauce, and soy sauce can be found in many foods, so many it’s hard to trace them. Therefore, it’s very important we have to make sue the soybean, if genetically modified, is free from any toxins to human beings. For this we need very good testing. We do have some testing on animals such as rats, but as yet no adequate testing exists to guarantee the safety of genetically modified food.

 

A: Why don’t we test them before selling them?

 

B: You know, they are entirely new, and their problems are entirely unknown. It takes time, a long time, to develop adequate tests to know if they are harmful to us or not. But they are already on the market and people eat them without their knowing it.

 

A: Then what may happen?

 

B: We may not be able to tell what may happen if we take genetically modified foods. Some of them may be resistant to antibiotics. Then many of the medicines we have today will have no effect on people eating genetically modified foods.

 

A: Is it so serious?

 

B: You never know, I say it may be the case. A more likely case is the genetically modified foods may contain genes that some people are allergic to. You know allergy?

 

A: I see. I have a friend who once fell ill and was sent to a hospital. The doctor gave him penicillin, but after the shot he didn’t get better. In fact he lost consciousness and nearly died.

 

B: Your friend is allergic to penicillin. One way to avoid allergic reaction is to know what you are allergic to, and avoid getting in touch or eating those things. But you can’t know for sure if a new genetically modified food contains anything you may be allergic to.

 

A: I see, and you may be eating things and suffering without knowing why.

 

B: Exactly. Suppose you are allergic to a gene in genetically modified soybeans, and the soy sauce is made of such beans, then it’s very hard to tell what you are allergic to and in fact you can’t eat anything that contains genetically modified soybeans.

 

A: I see. Every time people have soy sauce you may become allergic, because it is made from genetically modified soybeans. So you won’t be able to eat anything!

 

B: And suppose the genetically modified soybean is planted near a field that produces traditional, natural soybeans, this field may also be affected by wind or rain.

 

A: So the natural soybeans may get polluted.

 

B: Exactly. Genetically modified foods may create environmental problems.

A: Then they’re really Frankenstein foods. And what’s the condition of China?

 

B: Well, in China, there are six types of genetically modified plants have been commercialize. Though only two varieties of tomato and pimento are edible, genetically modified products from abroad may come into our lives but most people even know nothing about it.

 

A: Oh, what are we going to do? We already live in fear. Are we going to have more things to fear in future? I don’t know how people can enjoy their lives if every time they eat anything they are afraid of being allergic, or being poisoned.

 

B: Yes. At least we have to be clear about what we are eating. That is why the China Consumers Association is calling for labeling on genetically modified foods. That is, if a food is made of genetically modified plants they should tell consumers so they know before they buy them.

 

A: That’s a good idea. Next time I go to a supermarket I have to look carefully at the package before I buy anything.

 

B: Exactly. They are like an ID for the food you are buying.

 

A: But that’s still not enough.

 

B: Sure. We urge our government to draw up more regulations and our food administration to do more tests to ensure food safety.

 

A: Now I know more about genetically modified foods. They may be a solution to the world’s food shortage, and they may raise foods with better tastes to improve our lives, but we have to be careful and have to guard against any possible effects that do people harm. Genetically modified food labeling is a first step. I think we should do it as soon as possible.

 

B: I can’t agree with you more. And you can refer to “Avoid genetically modified food guide 2005”, it can help you when you shopping and you can download it from www.greenpeace.org.cn/foodguide.

 

A: Thank you very much. Dr B.

 

B: You’re welcome.