Although no health impairments have occurred so far, over four adults believe that genetically modified foods are harmful to human health, and nearly two-thirds tend to purchase non-genetically modified foods; although the environmental value of genetically modified crops is also emphasized, various accidents have occurred. This has caused people to worry about this new species.
In December 2009, people were informed that in the near future, genetically modified rice and corn will be grown on a large scale and will then enter their own rice bowls.
Four months prior to the publication of this information, the Ministry of Agriculture issued a production application safety certificate for two varieties of genetically modified rice and one type of genetically modified corn without explaining to the public. The matter has been exposed so far, people in the sudden warming of genetically modified discussions appear more than ever before: how does GM crops affect people and the ecological environment? People are "transgenic" without being informed. Is it because of the unspeakable nature of genetically modified crops?
A survey conducted by the “Xiaokang†magazine and the Tsinghua University Media Survey Laboratory in April 2010 showed that a total of 84% of visitors admitted that they “had little knowledge†and “do not know†about what was a genetically modified crop; Four adults believe that genetically modified foods are "potentially harmful" to human health. Nearly two-thirds of people tend to purchase non-genetically modified foods. More than one-third of visitors believe that genetically modified crops "have a destructive effect" on the ecological environment.
Insects can not eat, how can people eat?
The GM rice “Huahui 1†and “BT Shanyou 63†which were approved in 2009 were actually put into Bacillus thuringiensis (BT) in traditional rice – a fatal effect on lepidopteran insects. The genes of the microorganisms, so that rice gains resistance to insects. In other words, pests such as rice leaf roller (Cnaphalocrocis medinalis) and rice borer borer (B. mori) will die when they eat rice containing the BT gene. The so-called genetically modified crops, that is, the use of modern genetic engineering techniques, place specific foreign genes in the genome of the target organism so that the target organism produces some traits that people want.
"How can people eat if insects can't eat?" Many people have such puzzles. Rice farmers in some parts of Hubei started planting rice when the genetically modified rice had not yet been safely identified, then sold the harvest in full, and insisted on eating traditional rice.
"In fact, the BT gene has a pesticidal effect because a protein produced by it can be activated in the insect's intestine, which in turn binds to receptors on the gut surface and causes perforation of the insect's intestine; Therefore, it can be activated because the intestinal environment of insects is alkaline. Unlike insects, the stomach environment of humans and animals is acidic, and there is no binding site of BT protein in the intestine, so at least theoretical and practical experience In terms of BT genetically modified crops, there is no negative impact on human health, said Huang Dazhao, former director of the Institute of Biotechnology of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and Zhang Xili, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
In addition, of the more than one billion genetically modified food consumers worldwide, there have been no health-related incidents caused by the consumption of genetically modified foods. In China, soybean oil has already been accounted for nearly 80% of its genetically modified products. In other words, most of the Chinese who consume soybean oil may have already eaten genetically modified foods with or without their knowledge, but none of them has perforated the intestinal tract or suffered from other diseases.
“However, the unexpected effect of genetically modified technology may be potential,†said Luo Yuannan, director of the food and agricultural project of Greenpeace, an international environmental organization. “The identification of GM food safety must be based on its long-term impact.â€
Luo Yuannan said that since the world’s first transgenic crop was introduced in 1983, people’s awareness of genetically modified crops has been less than 30 years; if the genetically modified fresh tomato was first introduced in 1994, then the genetically modified crop will be counted. The impact on human health is less than 20 years based on the search. "We do not know what potential risks exist in GM foods. In the absence of a scientific conclusion, people should not be allowed to take risks."
How long does the "long-term" observation of GM foods mean? “The food we eat now has been recognized as safe for millions of years. According to this standard, we need many years.†Luo Yuannan said, but how long it takes, nobody can tell now.