The Commited MAY 2015 | Page 89

TED ELAZIĞ COLLEGE / 8-A GMO Products and Their Bad Effects Zeynep ENGİN The production and consumption of GMO products are prohibited in Turkey, yet the use of GMO products to feed animals is still allowed. However, these products can enter Turkey without any control. Turkey imports two million tons of corn and a million ton of soybeans each year, all of which are GMOs. It is a well-known fact that GMO products are placed in the instant food imported from the USA and other GMO food producing countries. Oil is extracted from corn and soy flour, starch, fructose-based sugar and biscuits are used to produce snacks, chocolate, pudding, waffles, candies, instant soup, ketchup and sauces and all of them contain GMOs. However, the longterm effects of this processed food consumed by children all over the world are not known. my opinion, it is ironic. I find it ironic because the poor African countries are in debt to developed countries. Meanwhile, the wealthy states provide their farmers with such large amounts of subsidies so that they can sell their products cheaply at the world market. African countries, on the other hand, are unable to compete with them and borrow more. Therefore, this is not good for Africa as its debt will increase more and more. So, our crops should not be GMO- based since it will not solve our hunger problem. What might be the consequences? It is known that GMO products may be allergic and toxic. Besides, the rate of allergic reactions may increase in some countries as it is in the UK, USA and Russia. It is due to GMO soybeans. Can GMO Crops Solve the Problem of Hunger? GMO producers claim that GMO crops can be the only cure for the hunger problem in the world. In