Since the dawn of time, food has been an essential part of everyday life. Food, family and the course of history have been shaped around sources of food. However, in the modern age of humanity, we are facing a new food struggle: GMOs. These genetically modified organisms are created at the very root of an organism–its DNA. Organisms are mutated for the sole reason of creating food that is tough and durable, even in the most undesirable of conditions.

However, many concerns about GMO safety are glaringly apparent. GMOs are a relatively new innovation, making their appearance in the mid-1900s.

“GMOs are a prevailing issue that is gripping the world at the moment,” said sophomore Greta Zimmerman. “While this agricultural innovation seems to be helpful, they need to be studied in more detail to definitively know the long term effects on the environment and the human body before they are put into action.” And it seems the skeptics of GMOs have a valid point. In 2011, it was found that pregnant women and fetuses who had been consuming GMOs on a regular basis had a concentration of the toxin Bt, one that has a great deal of potential health risks in humans. While this study was small, it leaves the blazing debate about the safety about GMOs all around the world.

GMOs are an agricultural, technological and social wonder. However, without complete long-term research on the effect GMOs have on the human body and the environment, they may be dangerous. It is unwise to rely heavily on GMOs throughout the world, without knowing the complete overall risk. Without long term research on GMOs, the world should not use and rely on genetically modified products to feed the people of the world.