Hunger is currently one of the world's most widespread crises, affecting millions of people. In every country around the world, there are people who regularly go to bed without food, and many end up starving to death. One attempt to eradicate hunger has been to increase the amount of food in the world, so that there is enough for everyone. Scientists have attempted to achieve this by creating new species of crops through genetic engineering. Although genetically modified foods were originally created to improve agriculture, their negative effects far outweigh their positive effects. Although it has a relatively short history, genetically modified foods have become a massive industry. In 1995, the United States first allowed the sale of genetically modified foods for human consumption (Diaz and Fridovich-Keil). The first genetically modified food sold in the United States was a tomato invented to stay fresh longer (Fernandez). After just four years, almost half of the cotton, soybeans, and corn produced in the United States were genetically modified (Diaz and Fridovich-Keil). Currently, genetically modified crops are planted on more than a billion acres worldwide, according to the United Nations (Lerner and Lerner). In the United States, the majority of processed foods are made from genetically modified ingredients, more than 70 percent (Mercola and Pearsall 216). Genetically modified foods are now well established in the American food industry. To begin with, scientists have begun creating genetically modified foods for many positive reasons, including making crops and livestock stronger and/or more nutritious (217). A type of rice has been genetically modified to contain enzymes that produce extra protein to help people who are iron deficient...... middle of article...... article/443507>.Fernandez, Michael. “Genetically modified foods.” Student of the world of books. 2014 ed. World Book, 2014. Web. April 25, 2014. .Lerner, K. Lee and Brenda Wilmoth Lerner. “Genetically modified foods and organisms.” Gale Science Encyclopedia. 4th ed. 2008. N. pag. Science in context. Internet. May 3, 2014. .Mercola, Joseph and Kendra Degen Pearsall. Take control of your health. Schaumburg: Mercola, 2007. Print.