Genetically Modified (GM) Foods: A Brief Perspective

Due to ever-increasing population burden, genetically modified (GM) foods promised great potential, to solve many of the world's hunger and malnutrition problems, and also to preserve the environment. The authentic GM foods may not only have better nutritional and pharmaceutical values but are also resistant to pest and diseases, tolerant to extreme temperatures and herbicides. Yet they pose many challenges for the governments, scientists, industrialists and policy makers, especially in the areas of safety testing, regulation, international policy and food labeling.

The global area under transgenic crops has continued to grow during the last decade. Accordingly, India has made several advances in the import of GM foods and planting materials. The growing concern is that several ‘hybrid’ and ‘research grade’ varieties of traditional crops have been flooded in the market, majority of them being unauthenticated. These hybrid and research grade materials may pose severe health hazards along with the environmental nuisance. The present database regarding the toxicological, nutritional and environmental health hazards are inadequate. The need of this hour is to release only authenticated GM and/or hybrid crops in the market. Further, public awareness and easily accessible database of GM foods to the consumers must be made available. The pros and cons of the GM foods in world and India are discussed.