The GM food

A variety of foods can be genetically modified using biotechnology – these are known as GM foods.

                  http://www.geneticallymodifiedfoods.weebly.com/

The GM foods were first put on the market in the early 1990s. Typically, genetically modified foods are transgenic plant products: soybean, corn, canola, and cotton seed oil. Animal products have also been developed, although as of July 2010 none are currently on the market.
Scientists create genetically modified food because there is a need to produce inexpensive, safe and nutritious foods to help feed the world’s growing population. The advantages of GM food have been showed:

• Sturdy plants able to withstand weather extremes
• Better quality food crops
• Higher nutritional yields in crops
• Inexpensive and nutritious food, like carrots with more antioxidants
• Foods with a greater shelf life, like tomatoes that taste better and last longer

The GM foods also have its problems and risks, the safety assessment of GM foods generally investigates: (a) direct health effects, (b) tendencies to provoke allergic reaction; (c) specific components thought to have nutritional or toxic properties; (d) the stability of the inserted gene; (e) nutritional effects associated with genetic modification; and (f) any unintended effects which could result from the gene insertion.

In conclusion, the potential benefits, risks and ethical concerns regarding GM foods are still being researched and debated. It does not have to be worried too much since GM foods sold in Australia, or foods containing GM ingredients, are all required by law to be labelled.