Although there may be some advantages to produce genetically modified food, it possesses many risks within. Human health risks caused by the GM Foods are allergenicity, direct and indirect cancer links, and unknown effects on human health. As Whitman (p. 6) highlighted in 2000, “There is a possibility that introducing a gene into a plant may create a new allergen or cause an allergic reaction in susceptible individuals”. In 1999, “Genetically Modified Foods” points out that, from conventional foods familiar allergens are able to be transmitted into GM Foods. For example, a gene from the Brazil nut was presented for the first time in the soybeans throughout the laboratory tests. It was discovered, that genetically modified soybeans could be allergens to people who are allergic to Brazil nuts (pp. 2-3). Furthermore, new allergens could also be produced. “GMF-The Answer to World Hunger” (n.d.) explains on pages 2-3 that, “Proteins transferred from one food source to another might confer on food from the host plant the allergenic properties of food from the donor plant”. In other words GM Foods threaten human health.

GM Foods lead to direct and indirect cancer links which can cause several illnesses and genetic mutation. According to Batalion, a chemical hormone caused by a genetically produced growth hormone “rBGH” injected to dairy cows has 400-500% higher risks of cancer types (2000, pp. 11-12). As stated by “Special Report-GMF”, GM bacteria generate rBGH, known also as BST, which is copied from a natural hormone present in cows. Raising the milk production by 10-20% is its aim (2003, p. 5). Batalion also added that there is a sign of developing leukemia showed by FDA’s experiments that the mass of a spleen increased of 46%. The hormone killed during pasteurization was the struggle. Moreover, there are also many other GM approved products like soybeans, corn and canola which contain herbicides also known as carcinogens which lead to cancer, and DNA fragments of some products which are genetically modified and not able to be fully digested lead to some autoimmune diseases. A few years ago, scientists found that a combination of pesticides increased the cancer rate 1000 times. Cells duplicate out of control during genetic modifications caused by X-rays and these chemicals. Today, in the US 1 out 2 of men has cancer although in 1900 only 1 out 11 of men had cancer (2000, pp. 11-12). To avoid of cancer, genetically modified foods should not enter people’s diet.

Introducing foreign genes into food plants could have an unanticipated and negative influence on human health which is a growing worry (Whitman, 2000, p. 6). Firstly, Cummins in 2000 reported that genetically modified foods threaten human health while being potentially toxic. 37 Americans were killed by a chemical called L-tryptophan and 5000 people were complaining about its effects. Moreover, it caused some diseases like: EMS. It was found that genetically engineered bacteria were used by Japan’s third largest company, and during the recombinant DNA process they became polluted (pp. 2-3). Secondly, as mentioned in “Special Report-GMF”, bioengineers frequently put a marker gene to the new gene for identification because it is hard to recognize if the “new gene has been successfully” entered to the host DNA. Amphicilin, one of the marker genes, is resistant to special antibiotics. If genes coded for resistance are introduced into the food chain, the effectiveness of antibiotics could decrease (2003, p. 2). Briefly, GM Foods behave like a toxin or reductor if they enter the human body.

GM Foods harm the environment by damaging other organisms and reducing the effectiveness of pesticides. GM Foods lead to unintended harm to other organisms due to cross-pollination and creation of superweeds. Sakko (2002) states on pages 4 and 5, that “Cross-pollination is a concern for both GM crops and conventional breeding, especially with the more serious weeds that are closely related to the crops”. In 1999, “Genetically Modified Foods” reports that herbicide resistance of weeds caused by the cross pollination between GM crops and weeds can occur. Increased use of herbicides ends up in soil and water contamination (p. 3). Accidental cross-pollination may result in an increase of the spread of GM crops (“Special Report-GM Foods”, 2003, p. 3). In 2002, Sakko focus on the fact that GM crops may raise a health risk to native animals while poisoning them by inherent pesticides. After being fed with GM corn pollens 44% of caterpillars died (p. 4). “Several studies continue to show a risk that GM crops will interbreed with wild relatives and thereby not only create GM-tainted crops but also sprout 'superweeds'” (Pringle, 2003, p. 190). Besides, Batalion in 2000 asserted that superweeds, which show resistance to butterflies, months, and beetle pests are generated from genetically modified BT endotoxin that stays in the soil for at least 18 months. Superweeds spoil the balance of nature by hybridizing with other plants in order to produce invulnerable superweeds and they pass their genes owning the information to resist to pests, to the next generations (p. 20). It is obvious from the above that GM Foods damages other organisms in nature.

Reduced effectiveness of pesticides caused by genetically alteration lead to an increase in resistance of insects to the “natural biopesticide” Bacillus thuringiensis and rendering the spray ineffective. People are anxious about the increasing resistance of insects to B.t. and about the production of own pesticides of other genetically-altered product, just in the same way as mosquitoes produced resistance to the newly-forbidden medicine DDT (Whitman, 2000, p. 5). As reported in “Genetically Modified Foods” Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) produced by genetically modified crops may support the evolution of rendering the spray not efficient (1999, p. 3). As seen in this paragraph, increased use of GM crops effect resistant animals.

Scientists are also concerned about ethical issues like stress for animals, religious and philosophical problems whose reason is genetic modification. Genetically modified foods may stress animals, causing them to suffer from health problems and abuse.  For instance, according to Batalion’s reports on page 23, pig number 6706 was established with a gene to be “superpig”. However, it became extremely disabled with some diseases like arthritis, cross-eyed and some muscle problems. Two US biotech companies are generating 60 birds, ignoring the suffering that the animals, which are used for drug carrying, will face (2000). Batalion also adds on the same page, that “GM products, in general, allow companies to own the rights to create, direct, and orchestrate the evolution of animals” (2000). In brief, animal welfare is disturbed by genetic modification.
Religious problems like eating traces of genetic material from certain animals and philosophical problems like violation of natural organisms' intrinsic values and tampering with nature by mixing genes among species may be created by GM Foods. As stated by Batalion, in the past, it was much easier for someone not to consume certain foods due to religious purposes. However, without required labeling, religious and health conscious people have no chance of knowing whether the food is transgenically altered or not, therefore every food is doubtful (2000, p. 31). In 2003 Gupta noted, “Violation of natural organisms’ intrinsic values” (p. 3), is caused by genetic modification. Gupta also analyzed the fact that by mixing genes among species scientists meddle with nature (2003, p. 3). Comments thus show GM foods lead to problems.