GENETICALLY

MODIFIED FOODS

Submitted by:
El Shaira A. Labargan

Submitted to:
Lorina A. Galvez

Genetically Modified Foods

Genetically modified foods, also known as biotech foods, are ones that are grown
from genetically modified organisms, or crops. Specific changes have been made to the DNA
of these crops by genetic engineering techniques that encourage extra nutrients to be
produced, faster growth, an ability to resist diseases and other purposes. Plant products are

often the main group of modified foods, such as cotton seed oil, canola, corn and soybeans.
but in the future foods derived from GM microorganisms or GM animals are likely to be
introduced on the market. Most existing genetically modified crops have been developed to
improve yield, through the introduction of resistance to plant diseases or of increased
tolerance of herbicides.

Food that is genetically modified may sound like an idea for the science fiction
channel. It certainly does not make you think of corn growing in the field, or chips and salsa
for that matter. Most Americans probably do not have an opinion on genetically modified
foods because they have no idea what they are. They have even less of an understanding that
we, in all likelihood, are eating some variety of genetically modified food every day without
even know it or what the long-term consequences of that food might be.
Food that is genetically modified means that the original DNA structure has been
changed. DNA is basically the blueprint of each living thing. By altering the DNA, the
qualities or the characteristics of the living thing, plants in this case, can be changed. Why do
this? The goal of genetically modifying plants included the aim to make plants such as corn
or soybeans resistant to the herbicides used in the fields. This way the fields would be
sprayed with the herbicides, killing all of the weeds but not affecting the actual crops. In
theory, this makes a good model for the farmer who is trying to grow more crops and wants
to avoid damage from the weeds. Unfortunately, genetically modified foods are not that
simple.

First genetically modified food

The first genetically modified food to reach our tables was the Flavr Savr tomato.
Grown in California, the Flavr Savr tomato received Food and Drug Administration approval
in 1994, after two years of testing and assessment. Mounting costs made the crop
unprofitable, however, and production ceased in 1997. Creation of the Flavr Savr opened the
doors for other GM foods to make their way into our kitchens.

Typical Genetically Modified Foods

Almost every area in the food production market is using genetic modification to
produce foods that taste better, grow faster, resist disease and improve the amount of nutrients
found in the food. At times, the genetic modification helps to save natural resources because
the new food does not need as much water or energy to be processed. Many crops, dairy
farmers and meat producers have been genetically altered.
Top 10 Genetically Modified Food Products
1. SALMON
Genetically engineered food from animals might not be on the market yet, but a few
already have been approved. GM salmon is, as we speak, on its way to our dinner table. Wild
salmon matures slowly, taking up to three years to reach its full size. GM salmon, on the
other hand, not only will grow faster but also should reach about twice the size of its wild
cousin. The creators of the GM salmon, a private company called AquaBounty, promises to
harvest the salmon before it reaches its full size, thus preventing "giant" versions [source:
Discover Magazine]. The GM salmon, known as AquAdvantage, is meant to be grown in fish
farms. According to proponents of the modification, this would reduce fishing of wild
salmon, in turn protecting both the wild population of fish and the environment from human
intrusion.
Ironically, the major concern in the production of GM salmon is its impact on the
environment. Although the genetically engineered fish is supposed to be sterile, experts
believe there's no way this can be ensured, because DNA tends to mutate over time [source:
Soil Association].

2. ANIMAL FEED
A large percentage of animal feed is made up of crops such as soybeans. The world's
three largest producers and exporters of soybeans, the U.S., Argentina and Brazil, all grow
mostly GM soybeans. This means the chances of livestock eating GM feed is very high, no
matter where in the world you live. While not all corn is genetically modified, it is simply
cheaper and more efficient to feed livestock the crops that are GM.
A large part of the GM presence in animal feed does not come from foodstuff but
instead from additives aimed at making food more nutritious. Animal feed is commonly

enhanced with vitamins, amino acids, enzymes and even coloring. These additives are passed
on to the animal's system and eventually make their way into your body when you consume
meat, eggs or dairy products. Traces of GM cannot, however, be detected in animal byproducts, so it's impossible to know if an animal was raised on GM-enhanced feed. Unless
you buy organic meat and dairy products, it might be impossible to determine what you're
eating.
3 .OILS
Oils are used for more than cooking and flavoring. They are also an ingredient in
many foods we consume. Modified oils can be sold as cooking oils, but are also used for
making snacks such as potato chips. Margarine is also made by using oil. Modifications
include oils losing the bitter taste they once had and making the plants more resistant to
herbicides.
GM-modified oils are sold as cooking oils, but also commonly used for frying snacks
such as potato chips and also used in the production of margarine [source: GMO Compass].
Canola or rapeseed oil became an important crop only after being genetically modified.
Before that, the oil was too bitter to be used in foods. The modification did away with the
bitterness and also increased rapeseed's resistance to herbicides. This allows crops to be
sprayed with weed-control products without running the risk of affecting the actual crops.

4. SOYBEAN
Soy is used in the production of many items that we use every day, such as cereal,
chocolate, ice cream and baked goods. Because 85% of soybeans are altered, nearly everyone
is consuming altered soybeans in some way. Most soybeans are used for livestock and not for
humans.

5. GOLDEN RICE
Golden rice was first created to fight vitamin A deficiency, which affects 250 million
people around the world and can cause blindness and even death. Rice is one of the most
common foods on Earth. In fact, almost half of the world's population survives on a single
daily bowl of rice. Because getting vitamin supplements to every single person on the planet
would be impossible, scientists believed that the answer was to create a grain of rice that
already had vitamin A in it. And so golden rice was born. Its name came from the bright

golden glow added beta-carotene causes. The body converts beta carotene into vitamin A
[source: Biotech Institute].
Scientists now are working on a new GM rice. This new variety would have an iron
gene, causing the grain of rice to become an important source of iron. Iron-deficiency causes
low-birth-weight babies and anemia, both of which can be fatal. It hasn't been possible to
combine both vitamin A and iron in the same grain, but scientists are hopeful that this will be
possible at some point in the future.
6. SQUASH
Squash were modified because they are especially susceptible to some viral diseases.
The altered squash were more disease resistant, but beetles who love to eat squash carry
bacterial wilt disease. The squash are less resistant to this disease. Scientists are also
concerned that the altered squash may be growing wild in some areas and not in controlled
fields. If squash grow wild, this could cause serious environments issues.
7. TOMATOES
Although tomatoes were the first genetically modified food to reach the market, they
have since been altered for only one reason: to make them last longer. GM tomatoes don't rot
as quickly as regular tomatoes, so they can tolerate longer periods of transportation. GM
tomatoes also can be left to mature on the plants, rather than being picked green. This results
in a more tasty tomato that doesn't need to be stored until ripening.
The original GM tomatoes were resistant to antibiotics. This raised concerns that the
gene might be passed on to humans, making us more resistant to antibiotics and in turn less
capable of fighting infectious diseases. New forms of GM tomatoes don't contain these genes,
however.
8. CORN
Bt-corn (named after the Bacillus thruringiensis bacterium) is a form of sweet corn
that has been genetically modified to include an insect-killing gene. This means the farmer
doesn't have to spray with pesticides, because the insects die from eating the corn. No
spraying means less harm to the environment and the workers handling the toxic spray
[source: Bionet]. The move has caused debate, however. The same gene that attacks corn
predators also appears to kill the Monarch butterfly.
9. POTATOES
Genetically modified potatoes were created to be very resistant to diseases, such as
Phytophthora Infestans, that can spread quickly and kill entire fields of potatoes. A disease
like this caused the potato famine in the 1840s. Only 25% of the potatoes grow today are
eaten by people. The other 75% is used in feeding livestock and in the starch industry.
Scientists want to use the potato more in the glue and lubricant industry so they are trying to
develop a potato that is even more modified that cannot be eaten by people.

10. SUGAR BEETS

One of the latest crops to be genetically altered is the sugar beet. Production of a
modified beet began in 2008, but was banned in 2010 because the USDA failed to provide an
environmental impact statement. Beets usually grow very slowly so the modification was
made to encourage faster growth.
List of foods which probably contain GMO ingredients:
(the following list is a excerpt from http://www.stuartwilde.com/2013/01/gmofoods-to-avoid/)
May Contain GMO Ingredients
FritoLay (Lays, Ruffles, Doritos,

Honey Maid, SnackWells,

Cheetos, Tostitos)

Teddy Grahams, Wheat

Hostess Products

Thins, Triscuit)

(Interstate Brands)

Pepperidge Farm (Campbells)

Keebler (Kelloggs)

Pringles

Kraft (Nabisco, Nilla Wafers,

Quaker Oats Company

Oreos, Ritz, Nutter Butter,

REFERENCES:

http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/curiosity/topics/10-genetically-modified-foodproducts.htm
http://www.who.int/topics/food_genetically_modified/en/
http://www.newhealthguide.org/Genetically-Modified-Food-List.html
http://timotraveling.blogspot.com/2013/05/gmo-philippines-genetically-modified.