Ethical and Moral Implications of GMO #2

In the last post we started looking at the ethical and moral implications of the manipulation of our food supply by genetically engineering the food. Biotech companies commonly genetically modify food to make it resistant to herbicides. So we have Monsanto’s “Roundup Ready” corn seed.

When farmers plant the corn, they can spray the herbicide Roundup on the corn plants and the weeds at the same time, killing the weeds but not the corn. This process makes it easy for farmers and is one of the reasons that corn farmers can produce 5,000 tons of food per acre.

Now that’s a whopping big bunch of corn. But at what cost?

And then there’s the genetic modification (GM or GMO) of animals, to make them grow faster or bigger. But again at what cost? Are we ultimately setting up monstrous problems that we will not be able to undo?

To understand all of these issues we really need to take an in-depth look at biotechnology’s manipulation of the genetic codes of plants and animals, even inserting animal genes into plants. GM foods are now introduced into the market place without good in-depth scientific study on how it affects the human body.  Consequently the general public (that’s you and me) become the guinea pigs.

Again I would urge you to watch the following DVDs so you have a good overview of genetic modification science and so you understand that it really is still in its infancy but has been released into our food chain without any significant testing.

Take a look at these videos:

•  King Corn
• Food, Inc
• Unnatural Selection
• Hidden Dangers in Kids’ Meals

The latter 2 come in a set called GMO Trilogy which you can order from Amazon. Find Food, Inc. and King Corn on Amazon

Do you even know how much genetically modified food you are eating? If you said none, then you may be surprised because 88-89% of all corn, soy, cottonseed and canola in the United States has been genetically modified. Food manufacturers turn corn and soy into a myriad of products that wind up in most prepared, packaged foods that you buy. So if you’re eating corn chips, corn tortillas, anything with high fructose corn syrup in it or any other corn by-product, then you are eating genetically modified food.

(Fortunately only 3% of sweet corn, like corn on the cob, is genetically modified. Yeah! I love corn on the cob.)

On top of that genetically modified (GMO) corn is fed to cattle in the feed lots. When we eat the beef, how does it affect our bodies? Questions thus far unanswered by scientific investigation.

To understand the issues and the enormity of this problem, I once again encourage you to watch these DVDs:
Take a look at these videos:

• Food, Inc
• King Corn
• Unnatural Selection
• Hidden Dangers in Kids’ Meals

The latter 2 come in a set called GMO Trilogy which you can order from Amazon. Find Food, Inc. and King Corn on Amazon

You can also review the prior articles on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) at:

http://www.dr-jo-md.com/nutrition/gmfood1.html

http://www.dr-jo-md.com/nutrition/gmfood2.html

http://www.dr-jo-md.com/nutrition/gmfood3.html

And so after presenting these videos to the Shasta Bible College students in our nutrition class, here’s the question that I challenged them with:

Q. What are the major issues, problems, ethical and moral factors facing us individually and as a society in regard to genetic modification of our food? Did you know the truth or were you deceived?

Ryan Kwiatkowski gave this thoughtful answer:

One major ethical issue regarding genetic modification is a lack of respect for animals and God’s creation. God has given us dominion and authority over the animals. I say this because there are those who value animal life as high as or even higher than human life (if we are simply evolved animals this would be sensible). However, genetic modification shows disrespect for God’s creation. Scientists often experiment on animals not knowing what the ultimate outcome of their experimentation will be. Often the genetically modified animal will not live as long, be sterile, have deformities, or suffer extreme pain while alive. It is difficult, if not impossible for man to improve on God’s creation; there will always be harmful side effects. Genetic modification and animal experimenting often leads to a devaluing of life.

Another issue of genetic modification concerns the consumers, the human race. GMO foods have been introduced to our society unbeknownst to us. GMO foods can be unmarked or served in restaurants, so we may not be aware that we are consuming GMO foods. We should have the freedom to choose whether or not we are going to eat GMO foods. In a way, by not telling us they are taking away our freedom and deceiving us.

Ultimately a third ethical issue is tampering with God’s creation. By altering the genetic code that God has established, scientists are trying to improve on God’s design. By doing this they are putting themselves in the place of God. I don’t believe that God will honor this, and as it has been seen in the past, whenever man tries to add to what God has established, the end result is corruption.

 Now here are my questions to you:

Have you been eating genetically modified food without even knowing it? If so, how do you feel about that? What do you see as the ethical and moral issues in introducing GM food to an unsuspecting public?

I highly value your thoughts. Please make comments below.

Blessings,

Dr. Jo