One of the most common topics that are creating controversy worldwide is Genetically Modified Food (GM food). People are often wandering whether they are eating GM food or natural food, and they are scared for all the consequences that these products can cause on their health. But, what is GM food? According to Martinez (2008) GM food are fruits, vegetables and also animals that have had specific changes into their DNA using the methods of genetic engineering. Scientifics combine different genes from animals and fruits that are impossible to combine by means of sexual reproduction, for instance, we can find fish genes in a tomato (Martinez, 2008). At first, these products were created to improve the protection of food against insects and virus or to increase tolerance towards herbicides (20 Questions on Genetically Modified Food, n.d.). Personally, I think that these products are very dangerous and big companies are attending with our health. With this problem, it is important to know what is happening in Costa Rica, what is behind the companies that sell these products, and how GM food is affecting health’s people.
Costa Rica has been producing some GM products, but there are people against this idea. Costa Rica has been producing GM food in different parts of the country like Alajuela, Cartago, Puntarenas, Limón and Guanacaste, and some of the products are cotton, corn and soybeans The genes of these products were modified to make them more tolerant towards insects and herbicides. On the other hand, there are people who are against this GM food production. According to Vindas (2013) there are many companies in Costa Rica like El Bloque Verde, and Feco that are fighting against this idea. Also, there are twenty two Cantons that declared themselves to be GM free zones. Some of the cantons are Poas, Valverdevega, , Puntarenas, Escazu, , Palmares, Esparza, Orosi, Desamparados, Tibas, and Garabito (Costa Rica’s Fight against GMO, 2013). Fortunately, the GM production in Costa Rica has decreased. According to Vindas (2013) there are currently 443.1 acres of genetically modified crops, and the production has decreased 74% since 2007. People have to keep fighting to eliminate the GM production in Costa Rica.
On the other hand, it is important to know the purpose of creating MG food. Personally, I consider that international companies try to manipulate the world and they want to become more powerful. Unfortunately, these companies are interested only in money. They create an unreal message to confuse people. They say that this kind of food contains more nutrients and are saved and this is no scientifically proven (Costa Rica’s Fight against GMO, 2013). On the other hand, these companies do not warn people when the product is genetically modified what makes difficult to identify the natural product. People often buy fruits and vegetables and they are not alarmed when a product is genetically modified. Knowing the purpose of creating GM food will be useful when people buy vegetables and fruits.
It is also important to know some of the consequences. GM food affects human health. According to Brizuela (2013), 1500 people that had eaten GM food presented allergies and poisoning. Also, reports have shown that people have died, or have presented muscle pains. On the other hand, GM productions can affect other species. Carlos Zamora, a beekeeper at Miel Dorada de La Bajura and explained: “Bees have the capacity to travel across 700 hectares of land and, therefore, wherever the experimental pilot project for the transgenic corn is, there will be bees and hives in that radius, which can then be cross-pollinated with native corn, causing a hybrid specie of corn. The pollen then contains these transgenic substances, toxins, which deteriorates the quality of the honey and the life of the bees” (Costa Rica’s Fight against GMO, 2013). It is important to know the consequences to prevent some diseases and contamination.
In conclusion, it is important to know what is happening with the GM food. We have to take care about the environment and our health. Fortunately, the percentage of GM food in Costa Rica is decreasing and we have to keep fighting against this problem. GM food not only affects health, but also affects the environment. The power companies only care about progress, money and power, but they do not care about environment and human health. This is something that people have to take into account, and we must require labeling on all products that have been genetically mortified.
