GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOODS

WHAT ARE GENETICALLY MODIFIED (GM) FOODS?

Foods derived from crops or animals that have been altered by introducing specific genetic traits from animals, plants, bacteria or other organisms.

WHICH COUNTRIES GROW GM CROP VARIETIES?

It was reported that the United States, Argentina, Canada and China accounted for 99% of GM crops grown globally in 2002. Other countries that engage in the cultivation of GM crops are South Africa, Australia, Mexico, Romania, Bulgaria, Spain, Germany, France and Uruguay.

WHICH FOODS ARE GENETICALLY ENGINEERED?

The most common genetically engineered foods in the world are presently:

• Soy and its derivatives including soy flour and soy oil (sometimes sold as oil for cooking without specification of its source). Soy is very common in processed foods, baked items, meat products, and pet food. It is also common in Infant formula.
• Corn is also a common GM food. In the United States and Canada, GE corn may be found in Corn Flakes and other common corn foods.
• Canola, used most commonly as oil for cooking and in margarines and “lean” butter substitutes.

Other GM foods grown include, tomato, potato, rice, cantaloupe, sugar beet, radicchio, flax (linseed), papaya, squash and oilseed rape. Experiments are ongoing to develop other GM food items such as featherless chickens.

POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF GM TECHNOLOGY

• Improve nutritional value of foods
• Increase crop yields beyond the maximum for existing varieties
• Reduce post-harvest losses such as long shelf life
• Reduce reliance on chemical pesticides by producing pest resistant crops
• Make crops that better utilize soil nutrients
• Make crops that are tolerant of climatic stresses such as drought, cold, salt and heat

PUBLIC CONCERNS ABOUT GM TECHNOLOGY

Public concerns about GM technology are very diverse but most concerns can be grouped under the following headings:

Human health and safety – alterations of plant genes can result in GE foods being allergenic, more toxic or have reduced nutritional value.

Consumer choice – GM foods not properly labeled or tested but allowed to enter the food chain will reduce consumers’ ability to choose the foods they want to eat thus ignoring their right to choose and be informed.

Environmental – GM technology may reduce biodiversity through the contamination of GM free crops and the growth of undesirable species of super weeds which will be more difficult to control.

Ethical issues – patenting of life forms and tapering with nature through cross species breeding.

Risk – left unchecked, possible after effects from ongoing consumption may be ignored.