After finally finishing her homework around 11:30 the night before, and getting a less than satisfactory six hours of sleep, junior Kaitlyn To rolls over to shut off the loud beeping emitted by her alarm clock. She hesitates to get up, forcing herself to make her way downstairs toward the pantry to retrieve her favorite brand of cereal and a carton of 1% milk from the refrigerator. But, what she doesn’t know is that her favorite type of sugary cereal not only contains little nutritional value, but also genetically modified ingredients. She couldn’t know, as it is not required under U.S. law that products be labeled as containing these types of ingredients.

For many students at AHS, eating habits have changed after being exposed to alarming statistics and data about the growing influence of technology in the food industry. Biology and Government classes alike have be watching documentaries such as Food, Inc. and Supersize Me, sparking a new wave of conscious eating habits and creating some new vegetarians.

“I stopped eating red meat in 8th grade,” said junior Sarah Kenlin, “I kept hearing about how the animals were treated. Eventually I stopped eating poultry too.”

The term “genetically modified” refers to the process by which plants, animals, or bacteria have their genetic makeup altered. It was originally intended to increase a plant’s resistance to both insects and other plant diseases in a process similar to that of immunization and vaccination for humans. The bacteria Bacillus Thuringiensis (BT) is commonly added to plants in order to help ward off harmful insects, while strains of different viruses are introduced to plants in order to build up their immunity toward different diseases. As is often true with technology, once introduced, it began to seep into other sectors, namely the cattle and livestock industry.

In recent years, the food industry has been heavily scrutinized and exposed by documentaries such as Food Inc., which revealed the gross living conditions and treatment of animals intended for slaughter. Packed into factory-like warehouses by the thousands, both chickens and turkeys are abused and mistreated. In some cases, chickens receive less than half a square foot of space and turkeys each receive less than three square-feet. Further criticism stems from the genetic modification of these animals, which is directly linked to crippling leg disorders and the death of millions of chickens and turkeys each year. In order to meet the growing demands for white meat, chickens and turkeys have been modified to produce heavier breasts and grow twice as fast. The rapid growth and increased size has led to health complications such as congestive heart failure, as their hearts and lung systems are not developed or equipped to account for their size. The heavy weight of their breasts also inhibits their ability to stand up or walk.

In a preliminary study done by Dr. Ron Huber, a professor at Purdue University, results pointed to a potential tie between the use of ‘Roundup Ready crops’ and a previously unknown organism that may be causing miscarriages and infertility in animals.

To address this problem, genetically-modified (GM) foods, are examined by the World Health Organization (WHO). Criterion for the review process includes: the direct health effects, allergenicity, the nutritional or toxic properties of specific components, the stability of the genes inserted and the indirect effects that could possibly occur from the process. This system of review is intended to address three major concerns: allergenicity, gene-transfer and out-crossing. Gene-transfers can pose the biggest threat if antibiotic-resistant genes are added, because it is possible for these genes to be transferred from food to cells in the body or bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. However, according to the WHO, the health risk is posed by out-crossing, which is the movement of genes from GM plants into conventional crops in the wild and the mixing of the two types of seeds. In one incident, maize only approved for feed use, was mixed into the maize intended for human consumption. Concerns over the potentially negative effect GM seeds could have on plant biodiversity and wildlife has sparked further controversy.

Companies and scientists alike have both defended the technology by citing examples of the positive effects GM foods have had, especially in third-world countries. Rice, for example, has been modified to increase the level of iron and other vitamins in order to combat the growing problem of malnutrition in Asian countries. As for the future, scientists are working to create bananas that produce human vaccines against Hepatitis B, plants that produce unique plastics, and cows resistant to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow disease). They argue that studies have not produced any definitive data showing the possible negative consequences of genetic modification. However, data collected over the years by scientists has shown a correlation between growth hormones and potentially fatal diseases, leading some students to take matters into their own hands.

“I became a vegetarian five years ago,” junior Susie Sowa said, “Partially because I think all of the chemicals and things they feed to animals are disturbing and unhealthy for both us and them.”

According to the European Union’s Scientific Committee on Veterinary Measures Relating to Public Health, there are six hormones that pose a potential risk to human health. These include three naturally occurring hormone-s–Oestradiol, Progesterone and Testosterone– and three synthetic: Zeranol, Trebolone, and Melengestrol.

One hormone, known as rBGH, has also received widespread criticism and disapproval since its initially controversial FDA approval in 1993. Studies performed by the University of Vermont revealed a rise in the number of deformed calves and an increase in cattle suffering from the painful bacterial infection of the utter known as mastitis. According to Science News, approximately 80% of feedlot cattle are injected with hormones today. A study showed that for at least 195 days after being injected with melengestrol acetate, residues of the hormone were traceable in manure. In 1950 cows could produce about 5,300 pounds of milk a year, today however, a typical cow produces 18,000 pounds. That’s 49 pounds a day, compared to 14 pounds a day in 1950. The use of estrogen to promote the production of milk in cattle may be linked to the early-onset of puberty, especially in girls. When given the hormone rBGH, a cow’s milk has shown higher levels of IGF-1 (Insulin Growth Factor 1). IGF-1 has been linked to colon and breast cancer, although the FDA has repeatedly assured consumers the hormone is safe for both cattle and humans.

Regardless of one’s position on genetic modification and growth hormones, maintaining a balanced and varied diet is essential to one’s health. Scientists suggest that everyone eat diets rich in fruits, grains, and vegetables and meats in moderation. The degree to which meat is cooked also can be a deciding factor when examining the potential risks. However, the decision about what products are “safe” and those worthy of the title “healthy” is ultimately up to the consumers.