by Mario Depeine Sr

Created on: September 04, 2010   Last Updated: September 05, 2010

The food industry has been “evolving” into a giant chemistry and biology lab for the last few decades.  Today, most consumers are not even aware of the acronym:  GMO.  Yet, this acronym impacts the majority of consumers all over the United States and the world.  GMO stands for Genetically Modified Organisms.  When you first see the phrase you may think, “Oh, they must be referring to some genetic experiments?”  Unfortunately, that is true, but the experimentation is on our food and on the human race, the consumer. 

The definition of “food” is changing as time progresses and as scientists find new ways to alter the genetic make-up of the foods that we consume.  In essence, an apple looks like an apple, feels like an apple, and even tastes like an apple, but our bodies may not necessarily recognize it as an “apple.” If the genetic make-up of the “apple” could be altered effectively it would lead to increased production and sales. The consumption of these new “foods” however, may lead to many digestive complications, poor health and maybe even death. 

Plants, like corn, are being genetically altered so that they could withstand the onslaught of herbicides (weed killers) that are applied to them in large quantities.  The way it works is that strains of corn crops (organisms) are being produced that will not be weakened or killed by herbicides.  The weeds that compete for the corn plant’s nutrients will die, but the corn plant will thrive even when there is tons of “poison” being applied to it. 

On the one hand, the fact that the “good” plant can survive while the weeds die is a great accomplishment, we have to ask “At what cost?”  In the Bible (see Mathew, Chapter 13:24-30), there is a parable called “the parable of the weeds.” The parable talks about how the weeds are hindering the growth of the wheat.  Jesus says let them both grow together or while you try to take the weed out you may destroy the “good” plant, the wheat.  So he says to wait to harvest time.  Well, with genetic engineering, we don’t have to wait for harvest time.  We can kill the “weeds” and the “wheat” remains standing, green as ever.  The experiment’s question is, “How are the people, the subjects, being affected by the “new

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