posted by admin on Jan 28
It’s not just genetically modified foods that are being manipulated!
The argument for and against GM foods, as they are known, is a raging one. The ‘Againsts’ are asking “why should scientists tamper with nature” (by adding bits of fish proteins to tomatoes for example) – but then the ‘Fors’ are saying “why should scientists not try to ‘invent’ food that is more nutritious, disease resistant and with a longer shelf life?”
However – there is now a new way to manipulate processed food without necessarily modifying the original ingredients: nano particles.
NanoTechnology:
These ‘nano’ particles are inbetween the atomic level and molecular level and nanoparticles of known substances act differently to their ‘normal’ counterparts – for example; nano particles of gold have a different melting point to a slab of gold.
These particles can be used to change the properties of other particles and can therefore be very useful for solidifying, or liquifying certain solutions etc.
There is much debate about the implications of using nanoparticles in the future – as with medicine, biomaterials and foods – due to the fact that nanoparticles can pass through cell walls with ease – including into the brain. As a result there is much debate as to their uses and regulation – particularly as they have unproven effects on the body.
Nano Foods:
So, would it then surprise you to find out that there are already food products and toiletries on the market containing nanoparticles – whether you knew it or not!
Nanoparticles – like nano-silver – can be great in the product they are made for, improving its qualities many times over – but it’s what happens after these particles leave the product that they become a hazard.
photo credit: Akira Ohgaki
As always, when eaten in the form of a highly nutritious and long-lasting product – it eventually has to come out of that product – as we all know ‘what comes out doesn’t look at all like what went in’. So where do these nanoparticles go as they don’t usually break down very easily?
The first answer is that they don’t go anywhere. They may move themselves across the digestive wall, travel around your body and settle somewhere forever. Whether they are in a ‘good place’ or a ‘bad place’ isn’t necessarily the worst thing to worry about – it’s what they do when they get there – and how much you eat that can cause the problem.
The second scenario is that you excrete them and they head off into the sewers and landfill. Now usually, nanoparticles are added to food to prevent bacterial growth and decay – so they aren’t going to degrade easily alongside other waste. And what if they stop the other waste from degrading too?
Just as excessive polystyrene is great for protecting products – but a nightmare to dispose of; nanofoods may well be the greatest answer to food preservation and improved nutrition. However, if their consumption causes health issues and their disposal causes pollution and disruption – then are the initial benefits worth while?
People Say:
Unfortunately, consumer trends are what can influence whether a product is successful or not – so by keeping your ingredients ‘under the radar’ you can just about put anything in them.
In the same way that companies use various other words to describe palm oil other than actually saying ‘our product contains palm oil’ – they are still selling crates and crates of their products – even though consumers ‘hate to see the rainforests being burnt down’.
However, in Europe, GM foods hit the headlines and now hardly any companies at all can sell GM foods anywhere. People spoke their mind and they stuck to their guns. However, people in other countries weren’t so bothered by it all and so regularly buy genetically modified foods.
So why not eat nano foods too? Is the risk that great?
Lets be honest: we know that smoking can lead to all sorts of long-term illnesses and even death – but millions of people world-wide still smoke.
Fancy a packet of nano-peanuts with that!
