Are genetically altered foods healthy for the body?

A food safety, allied to the protection of the environment, is an indispensable agenda. Genetic modification has been used for over 20 years in the European Union (EU), becoming common in most of the world over the years, although there are still healthy and necessary discussions about the theme.

In Brazil, genetically modified (transgenic) foods are released for consumption and planting. The National Technical Biosafety Commission (CTNBio) is the body responsible for approving and releasing these products in the country. CTNBio evaluates the biosafety aspects related to the use, consumption and commercialization of these products, ensuring that they are safe for human health and the environment.

Transgenic foods in Brazil include, for example, genetically modified soybeans, corn, cotton and beans. These foods undergo rigorous testing and analysis before being approved and released for consumption and planting. In addition, products containing transgenic ingredients must be properly labeled, following the norms established by the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAP).

Genetic editing of food

Genetically edited or adulterated foods are part of a wide range of techniques. Farmers are able to modify, for example, two types of vegetables – a good but small vegetable and a bad in the larger size – performing the merge to find the perfect point: a good, tasty product and bigger than it was expected.

This mixture, however, can take years to produce. Farmers need to find the right mix of thousands of other vegetable genes, plus there is a percentage error in production.

The technique manages to add new DNA to the plant, with genes from other different crops, and even animal genes. Varieties are created that would never be able to produce without this type of genetic modification.

In addition to this crossover in DNA, there is cisgenesis, which was allowed in English law. Cisgenesis is a genetic alteration that is capable of adding genes from close or different species to the product. It's a much newer technique that allows scientists to focus on more specific genes.

Although the law has been passed in England, these measures will not be applied for now. The process takes years, but the government ensures that they are being well underway.

Food safety and genetically-edited foods

The three techniques used by science, including genetic editing, genetic modification and cisgenesis, are capable of producing food that is completely safe for consumption, as experts claim. Genetically modified products, as a real proof, have been consumed in Asia for over 25 years.

There are those who oppose genetically edited foods, as it becomes a concern because they do not require other tests. The biggest counterpoint of the activists are the toxins that can also be produced on a larger scale, causing environmental impacts.

Even through these questions, science claims that no evidence of harm to human health or the environment has been found.

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