Why is there so much opposition to GM food ?

Answer 1

afaik, the reasons are:
1. we are tinkering w/ nature. who knows what super gmo will be made. like genetic modification of viruses. there might come a time a super virus was invented & will cause the extinction of all humans.
2. we don't know the effect of gmos on humans.

Answer 2

Do You mean Genetically manipulated or made foods? If so then.

I will stick with opposition only. Try and explain the reasons.

1. People usually tend to not trust, new things. It is just human nature.

2. It is being like a ship in the uncharted waters.

3. Most countries have facilities to test products but process takes time and still the result needs to be field tested, not a very easy thing to do, takes money and risk.

4. ............ see if you can think of other things. In spite of this we probably have million of products on the market that we consume from time to time without even knowing. If we did not have these products we would have been extinct long time ago.

Answer 3

There are many reasons for the opposition and there are also many reasons to support it, it's a very debatable topic.

We are using technology which is relatively new and so we don't know they true long term affects of it on the world or on people eating the food.

Some people are apposed to it as they see it as playing god and think we should not do this.

Some people are apposed to it because they do not know what companies and people could be doing to the food, seeing as there aren’t that many laws stating it has to be declared what is done. They feel they could be eating anything, and never know.

Some people do not agree with the moral implications, such as putting human genes into animals or animal genes into plants.

There are many more reasons for people to appose it, but the main and biggest on I feel is that by using this kind of technology we are reducing genetic diversity.

Using this kind of technology, where a plant if genetically modified, means there is less natural selection and natural processes which result in diversity. Plants developed by genetic modification often out compete their natural rivals. This leads to them being used more extensively, leading to a lean towards one type of farming in areas eg. Only one type of wheat being grown in a whole state or even country because it out competes and grows better then the others.

This may seem fine, except there is always the possibility of some currently unknown pest of other form of killer coming through to which the gm food has no resistance. As it has become the dominant form grown and there is little to no other forms, a whole country’s supply of that food can be wiped out almost instantly.

If that country was reliant on that crop for money or even to feed it's people, it will cause massive poverty and destruction.

Also, with genetically modified foods being produced, they are more likely to be used over their natural rivals. This could lead to the other types becoming very rare.

All of this makes our ecosystems, and the food and crops we rely on very fragile and vulnerable.

There are of course many reasons to approve of gm foods such as them being stronger and so easier to grow in other wise impoverished aces, helping with poverty an starvation etc. They is even claims that it simply makes some foods taste better, like gm tomatoes which are modified so they do not ripen so quickly, this means they can stay on the vine longer developing a better taste and growing bigger.

There are many pros and cons, I have only listed a few. It's a hard one to pick.

Answer 4

There's a lot of people who are simply uncomfortable with modern technology, particularly things that are biological. They don't know much science, they don't understand it, and they are bombarded by news stories of high technology gone wrong. Or about someone's fears that it will go wrong. So they're afraid.

We've actually been eating GM food for many years. For example different kinds of wheat were combined genetically to get a type that grows fast, needs less water, resists insects, etc. But that was "natural" breeding, not in a lab.

Lab GM is more powerful (which is why people want to use it). Theoretically I suppose you could get something that is harmful to you or to other plants, but it seems highly unlikely to me.

Answer 5

Because no-one really knows what the outcome will be, regardless of what they might tell you about how safe it is. Incidentally those who do express such opinions have usually much to gain financially.

Man does not have a very good track record of messing with nature. In nearly every case where the've gotten involved there's been some unexpected and negative consequence that turns up later.

Once the genie is out of the bottle it will prove impossible to get it back in. That's why.

Answer 6

Envy. Large successful US companies are always targets. Just look at how much Walmart, Microsoft and Exxon-Mobile have been attacted. Since they are large publicly known companies, groups choose them as targets so their cause can get some press.

Answer 7

Because people are too easily swayed by the media. We have been genetically altering food since we have been growing food. Everything we eat has been genetically modified to grow more better faster.

Answer 8

because it can be risky.

although i say 'go for it'