CONTROVERSY OVER HEALTH IMPLICATIONS OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS: Which way for developing countries?

Main Article Content

Amofah George, MPH Badu Sarkodie

Abstract

The Ghana Public Health Association organized a scientific seminar in April 2014 to examine the introduction of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) into public use, and their potential health consequences. The seminar was driven by current public debate on the subject. Concerns have been raised about use of GMOs, especially in developing countries, for a variety of reasons including ethical and biosafety considerations. The seminar identified some of their advantages such as introduction of pest resistant, disease resistant, and drought tolerant crops; potential for reduced use of chemicals and pesticides; improving the nutritional properties of crops, and huge potential for production of pharmaceuticals and vaccines.


 


Potential health concerns raised included current efforts focusing primarily on a few crop/trait combinations of high commercial value; most trial designs are laboratory design and of short duration; increasing observation of trends in organ disease with use of GMOs, and lack of labeling of GMO products that hinder post-marketing surveillance.


 


There is the need to enhance local capacity to research the introduction and use of GMOs; to put in place appropriate regulatory mechanisms including, particularly, the labeling of their products, and long-term post-marketing surveillance for possible negative health consequences.


 


Furthermore, the appropriate state agency should put in place advocacy and communication strategies to keep the public informed about the health and other consequences of GMOs, for informed public choices.

Keywords: HEALTH IMPLICATIONS, GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS, MODIFIED ORGANISMS, ORGANISMS

Article Details

How to Cite
GEORGE, Amofah; SARKODIE, Badu. CONTROVERSY OVER HEALTH IMPLICATIONS OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS: Which way for developing countries?. Medical Research Archives, [S.l.], v. 11, n. 1, jan. 2023. ISSN 2375-1924. Available at: <https://esmed.org/MRA/mra/article/view/3275>. Date accessed: 08 dec. 2024. doi: https://doi.org/10.18103/mra.v11i1.3275.
Section
Research Articles

References

1. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. World Population Prospects 2022, Summary of Results. https://www.un.org/development/desa/pd/sites/www.un.org.development.desa.pd/files/wpp2022_summary_of_results.pdf. 2021. Downloaded on 6th January 2023.
2. Plan D, Van Den Eede G. The EU Legislation on GMOs - An Overview. EUR 24279 EN. Luxembourg (Luxembourg): Publications Office of the European Union; 2010. JRC57223.
3. US FDA. GMO Crops, Animal Food, and Beyond. https://www.fda.gov/food/agricultural-biotechnology/gmo-crops-animal-food-and-beyond. Downloaded on 25 August 2022.
4. Government of Ghana. The Biosafety Act (2011), Act 83. 2011. https://www.bcp.gov.gh/acc/registry/docs/Biosafety%20Act,%202011%20Act%20831%20.pdf. Downloaded on 22nd September 2022.
5. Stella, GU. The impact of genetic modification of human foods in the 21st century: A review. Biotechnology Advances. 2000;18:179-206.
6. Ghana News Agency. Food Sovereignty Ghana organises workshop on GMOs. 2nd March 2014. http: ghheadlines.com. Downloaded on 22 September 2022.
7. Rhodes JM. Genetically modified foods and the Pusztai affair. BMJ. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.318.7193.1284.1999;318(7193):1284.
8. Smith JM. Seeds of deception. 2003. http://www.ask-force.org/web/Fundamentalists/Smith-Seeds-of-Deception-2003.pdf. Downloaded on 22 September 2022.
9. Dona A, Arvanitoyannis IS. Health risks of genetically modified foods. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2009;49:164–175.
10. Delaney B, Appenzeller LM, Munley SM, Hoban D, Sykes GP, Malley LA, et al. Subchronic feeding study of high oleic acid soybeans (event DP-3Ø5423-1) in Sprague–Dawley rats. Food Chem Toxicol. 2008;(46):3808–3817.
11. Kumar K., Gambhir G., Dass A., et al. Genetically modified crops: current status and future prospects. Planta, 2020; 251(4):1-27.
12. Phipps RH, Park JR. Environmental benefits of genetically modified crops: global and European perspectives on their ability to reduce pesticide use. Journal of Animal and Feed sciences. 2002; Jan 31;11(1):1-8.
13. Garcia‐Casal MN, Peña‐Rosas JP, Giyose B. Staple crops biofortified with increased vitamins and minerals: considerations for a public health strategy. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 2017 Feb;1390(1):3-13.
14. Daniell H, Streatfield SJ, Wycoff K. Medical molecular farming: production of antibodies, biopharmaceuticals and edible vaccines in plants. Trends Plant Sci. doi: 10.1016/s1360-1385(01)01922-7. PMID: 11335175; PMCID: PMC5496653. 2001 May;6(5):219-226.
15. National Academy of Sciences. Oral immunization with hepatitis B surface antigen expressed in transgenic plants (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA); Sep 2001;98 (20):11539-11544.
16. Misra S. Human gene therapy: a brief overview of the genetic revolution. J Assoc Physicians India. 2013 Feb 1;61(2):127-133.
17. Kalra K, Tomar PC. Stem Cell: Basics, Classification and Applications. American Journal of Phytomedicine and Clinical therapeutics.2014;2(7):919-930.
18. Dona A, Arvanitoyannis IS. Health risks of genetically modified foods. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2009;49:164–175.
19. Smith JM. 2003. Seeds of deception. 2003; http://www.ask-force.org/web/Fundamentalists/Smith-Seeds-of-Deception-2003.pdf. Downloaded on 22 September 2022.
20. Smith JM. Are genetically modified foods a gut-wrenching combination? Institute for Responsible Technology 2013 Nov.
21. Smith JM. Seeds of deception. 2003. http://www.ask-force.org/web/Fundamentalists/Smith-Seeds-of-Deception-2003.pdf downloaded on 22 September 2022.
22. Mayet M. Analysis of South Africa’s GMO Act of 1997. Biowatch South Africa. 2004. Accessed at http://www. biosafetyafrica. net on 22nd September 2022.
23. José LD, Jordi GB. A literature review on the safety assessment of genetically modified plants. Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Sant Llorenç 21, 43201 Reus, Catalonia, Spain; Environment International 37. 2011:734–742.
24. Dona A, Arvanitoyannis IS. Health risks of genetically modified foods. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2009;49:164–175.