A Nigerian-trained physician based in South Africa, Wale Sodade, has cautioned Nigerians about the potential dangers of genetically modified organisms (GMO) in food. In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, Sodade emphasized that GMO foods can negatively impact human health.
GMO refers to the use of DNA technology to transfer engineered genes into plants or animals or the use of chemicals to enhance crop productivity.
Sodade, who hails from Abeokuta, Ogun State, debunked claims that GMO foods and crops are the solutions to food shortage and hunger in the country. He argued that although GMO advocates claim that engineered products yield more robust harvests than natural ones, this claim is unfounded.
“There is enough arable land and natural resources to support global farming,” Sodade stated. “Scientific studies have shown that GMO products may be harmful to the body, alter the natural genome of crops, and contaminate the land they are cultivated on.”
He added that countries should exercise caution when considering GMO foods, as there is no substantial scientific data supporting their safety claims. Sodade pointed to Russia as an example of a nation that has banned GMO food cultivation and implemented sound food policies.
While traditional crossbreeding techniques among genetically similar crops have been used for years without significant negative outcomes, Sodade emphasized that GMO technology is entirely different. Gene splicing, the process used in GMO, involves extracting genes from one organism and forcibly inserting them into another organism, irrespective of species differences.
For example, if scientists want to create frost-resistant tomatoes, they may identify genes responsible for cold protection in other organisms and transfer those genes to tomato plants. The source of genetic material could be any living organism, such as a baboon, frog, fish, spider, or even a housefly.
Sodade highlighted that GMOs are foreign to nature and that human bodies tend to reject them through allergic reactions or chronic inflammation, leading to various ailments. Additionally, GMOs have been found to transfer genetically modified bacteria into the guts of consumers, which can create harmful colonies and promote diseases, including cancer.
Laboratory experiments on animals have shown that rats fed exclusively with GMO potatoes for the equivalent of 10 human years experienced damaged immune systems and developed tumors in various organs. When these rats produced offspring, the offspring had small brains and severe organ malformations, indicating the potential risks of consuming such food.
“Food autonomy and sound food policies are crucial for the survival of every nation,” Sodade emphasized. He urged citizens in countries where GMO foods are being promoted to be aware of the dangers and engage with their leaders to protect their collective welfare.
NAN
