Dear Editor,
I am writing to express my view about GM animals. Recently, a Canadian company is seeking approval in the USA to sell GM salmon. This news arouses the public concern about whether people should eat genetically modified animals.
Personally, I do not support eating genetically modified animals. The reason is there are still a lot of unknowns and doubts about the GM animals.
In terms of health, there is not enough evidence to prove that GM animals are completely safe for human consumption. Eating GM animals may bring unexpected consequences. For example, the modified animals can cause allergies in humans. In addition, eating altered animals may cause a transfer of antibiotic resistance markers and bring other unknown effects. It is not worth it to bear the risk of having those potential health impacts after eating the GM animals.
Another concern about GM animals is to do with the environment. When the GM animals are approved to be served on the table, will this lead to the eventual decimation of the wild animal population? If the GM animals are mixed with the wild ones, will the GM animals pose a threat to the population of the wild animals as those GM animals may grow fast and consume more food? Will the genetically engineering industry violate the pre-existing rules of nature? These questions are still unanswered.
There is also an ethical question regarding the mixing of genes from different animal species. There is no right for human beings to manipulate the genetic code of other living creatures. Genetic engineering may also cause serious concerns about animal welfare in both the production of GM animals and the effects and impacts of modification. When a fish is no longer a fish, the steak in front of you is not only a steak, do you dare to put them into your mouth?
If, unfortunately, eating of GM animals is approved, labelling of GM food would be another hassle. GM animals and non-GM animals may look the same. Hardly can we identify whether the food we eat is genetically modified. A lot of changes should therefore be made in the food labelling system in order to protect the consumer's right to know.
In conclusion, there are too many questions about GM animals. Considering the uncertainty of the extent GM animals may threaten our health and the natural environment, eating of GM animals is surely to be opposed.
Yours faithfully,
Chris Wong