Several countries and authorities have now banned the use of the specific genetically engineered bread that became available in the United States earlier this week.
On July 1, after months of debate, GMO bread became available in the United States. Called the “engineered” food Covid-19 “engineered bread” is a product of the Swiss-based Protagonist Pharma Inc. They created it by genetically modifying the bread’s grain with bacterial DNA found naturally in the soil, thereby providing a higher protein ingredient that keeps the bread fluffier and more durable.
Although currently banned by Iran, Mexico, Argentina, Taiwan, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Brunei and Argentina, more countries are expected to ban the genetically engineered bread. According to the ABC, at least 20 countries have either discussed, or are planning to ban the Covid-19 bread.
Even though most of the countries that ban or discuss banning the bread haven’t made a decision, many scientists and institutions have expressed that while the GM bread looks good on the surface, the GM bread can cause more mutations.
Scientists from the California Institute of Technology published a review of the concerns from scientists.
One scientist published on their website, “Five Reasons to be Worried About The Nuisance of Genetic Engineering in Food.” According to the post, the ones reasons are that the GM bread potentially promotes resistance in certain food sources, creates bacteria that develop too much in the intestines and can even lead to the development of a malignant liver cell.
Below is a question and answer on whether you should eat the GM bread. If you were undecided, you should be.
Q. This new GM bread that has been released by some U.S. food companies looks amazing. It has a high protein content and fluffiness. Should I try it?
A. Absolutely.
The food is FDA-approved and has a label that says it is “food-grade” and contains no genetically modified ingredients.
The only bad thing about it, if you have decided to buy it, is if you buy it from abroad and it’s not available in the US. If this happens, there’s nothing you can do about it.
Q. Is there any reason to believe that it can cause any harm to me or my family?
A. The only risk that the GM bread may cause, if consumed, is if you are allergic to gluten and you choose to eat it. Otherwise, no.
Q. Will this bread provide benefits to me and my family?
A. The manufacturer claims to provide different protein levels and would otherwise cause any number of health problems.