Should you eat and damage your health?

Abstract

Genetically modified crops have been a source of controversy for at least three decades. However, concerns of contamination of the natural habitat by these crops to produce mutant “Triffid” like strains have not materialised. The modifications were introduced to make the crops tolerant to weed killing herbicides and in the last 20 years it is becoming apparent that these herbicides containing glyphosate are the real cause for concern. Glyphosate is now classed by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as "probably carcinogenic in humans" but the last 20 years have seen the advent of food costs rising less than inflation and greater productivity for farmers. For most people the cost of organic (grown without hebicides) crops makes them totally impracticable and only the wealthy in Western nations can afford such food over a longterm basis. We all take risks in everyday life and eating is just one of them; the issue then, is how much of a risk are we taking?