Genetically Modified Soybeans: Bad for Your Health?

Soy plantation with sky on the horizon. Shutterstock

The debate about genetically modified (GM) soybeans has always been controversial. Currently, 90 percent of the soybeans grown in America are genetically modified. Are GM soybeans harmful to the body? Let us explore this topic in detail.

1. Genetic Modification Versus Hybridization

Is there a difference between the two?

Genetic modification is a deliberate alteration of an organism’s genome. By inserting the genes of one or more species into the genes of another through a modern genetic recombination technique (also called DNA recombination technique), a brand-new variety is produced.

Hybridization, on the other hand, is a practice of thousands of years that cross-pollinates two species to create a new one in a completely natural process. The process can then be cultivated over time for a desired outcome. Hybridization also occurs naturally in nature—no humans needed.

Historically, hybridization and selective breeding leading to modification of the genetic characteristics of organisms and plants have been used.

2. The Purpose of Genetic Modification

What is genetic modification used for? There are three official answers.

• Increased production of food. It is said that around 820 million people are living below the hunger line and that increasing the yield of food has become the foremost reason for using genetically modified organisms.
• Improved nutritional value of food. In the process of plant genetic modification, foods can be modified to increase the content of protein, vitamins, and trace elements.
• Increase plants’ tolerance to herbicides and insecticides. In addition to providing weed and insect control, genetic modification strengthens plants’ ability to withstand large amounts of chemical herbicides and pesticides that otherwise could render plants unhealthy.

3. The Controversy Around GM Food

Why are genetically modified foods so controversial?

• There are other ways to improve food production levels. Agricultural experts believe that genetic modification is not the only way to improve yields. Good soil, proper cultivation methods, and practices such as crop rotation can all increase yields.
• Evolution of new food sensitivities or allergies. GM-led transgenics, while attempting to provide increased nutrition may also give rise to new allergens. For example, increased methionine in soybeans, due to genetic modification, may cause allergies in some people.
• Stronger pesticides can create stronger pests. Proponents of GM soybeans argue that GM plants require fewer herbicides and fewer pesticides to grow. However, challengers argue that the results of genetically modified plants could lead to the evolution of new superbugs and weeds. As plants naturally evolve to thrive in ever-changing environments—as do insects and weeds.

4. An Experiment on the Safety of GM food

Of most concern is whether genetically modified foods are of any harm to human beings. Due to the relative newness of GM foods, there are not enough long-term observations from studies of human consumption of GM foods to make a definite conclusion.

One well-known study conducted an experiment on the effects of transgenics on animals, wherein researchers fed rats with genetically modified soybeans for 90 days. After testing the various biological and health indicators on the rats it was concluded that genetically modified foods are neither dangerous nor harmful to humans.

However, the jury is still out. The transgenics study was performed on rats—not on humans and the research period was only 90 days. Other experiments on animals have also been performed that indicate that genetically modified foods can increase people’s risk of cancer and autoimmune diseases. Thus, the debates are bound to continue.

Genetically modified foods are different from naturally grown ones in terms of the ways they are cultivated. We should respect nature, and use natural methods to produce enough healthy food based on human wisdom.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Epoch Health welcomes professional discussion and friendly debate. To submit an opinion piece, please follow these guidelines and submit through our form here.