Danielle Salant GM Foods

Fig 2. Greenhouse Picture (ENN, 1999).

Genetically Modified foods offer enhanced nutrition, pesticide control, and shorter growing times, as well as a variety of other advantages. Genetically modified foods have become very popular in the United States, and have flooded the market (Tyson, 2001). The technology used to produce genetically modified foods is still not one hundred percent safe, and until it is gm foods should not be so widely accepted. GM foods do have some negatives effects, because they can cause adverse health affects, cause damage to the environment, and upset the small farming industry (DEFRA, 2003). Genetically Modified foods have to be studied more before they are allowed to be purchased by the consumer, and the consumer needs to be aware of what they are purchasing. Increased education and more refined laws and regulations concerning genetically modified foods need to be implemented.

Introduction:

What are Genetically Modified Foods?

Genetically Modified Foods or GM Foods are foods that have had their DNA modified to enhance the food in a way that would not naturally be found in nature. GM Foods are modified to enhance the nutritional value, shorten growing time, and increase the resistance to pests and diseases. Foods that boast genetic modification have flooded the American markets, and changed the way that the world looks at food (UCS, 2003).

"Genetically Modified Tomatoes"
Fig 3. GM Tomato (FCU, 2004)

How Do Foods Become Genetically Modified?

A new gene or section of DNA can be selected and transferred from one organism to another. The United Kingdom Legislation defines genetically modified organisms as "the genetic material that has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating and/or natural recombination" (DEFRA, 2003). The process of creating desired effects in plants and foods has been around for many years. Cross-fertilization and selective breeding were a few of the first attempts at creating a new altered plant. The new technology of genetic modification is more exact and less time consuming. Recombinant DNA isolates a gene or piece of DNA and transports it from one organism to a different organism (NCBE, 2004). To create a genetically modified plant one or more genes are inserted into the DNA of a plant's chromosomes. The inserted genes can come from a similar plant, a different plant, or a different organism. Click here to visit a site that will allow you to genetically modify your own plant.

Definitions:

Genetic Modification- The process of altering DNA.
DNA- Stands for deoxyribonucleic acid. It is the genetic material contained in the cells of all living things and it carries the information that allows organisms to function, repair and reproduce themselves (FSA, 2003).
Biotechnology-Use of microorganisms or biological techniques to produce useful compounds (FSA, 2003).
Transgenic- Another term for genetic modification, the artificial insertion of genes into a plant (DSCS, 2004).
Bio-pharming- Genetically Modified Food with pharmaceutical proteins inserted into them (DSCS, 2004).

GM Foods In The United States:

Fig. 4 Map of the United States (APPA, 2004).

The United States has been one of the first countries to not only field test genetically modified crops, but place them on the market for consumer consumption. Genetically modified foods have flooded the United States food market, and is currently being used in many of the foods produced (Tyson,2001). Modified enzymes are found in virtually all breads, cheeses, and even sodas and beers. In the United States many of the processed foods such as cereals and oils contain one or more genetically modified ingredients (Tyson, 2001). Figure 5 shows that in the year 2000 United States grew and field tested the most genetically enhanced foods in the world with sixty-eight percent of all genetically modified crops produced that year (UCS, 2000).

Figure 5. Top Countries That Produce Genetically Modified Crops (UCS, 2003).

In 1994 a new tomato that could be shipped without rotting was quickly placed on the U.S market after being determined to be safe by the United States Food and Drug Administration. Today more than fifty genetically altered foods have been said to be as safe as their more natural counterparts by the FDA. Figure 6 shows the top three genetically engineered crops produced by the United States in 2003. These particular plants have the increased ability to ward off pests, and tolerate herbicides that are used to kill surrounding weeds (Bren, 2003). Global sales of Genetically Modifed foods have grown from 75 million dollars in 1995 to 2.3 billion in 1999 (Tyson, 2001).

Figure 6. Top Three GM crops in the U.S. (Bren, 2003).

The United States Regulations of Genetically Engineered Foods:

There have been no new laws created to regulate the creation and distributions of genetically engineered foods in the U.S. The United States Government decided that the current laws that regulate foods and chemicals passed in 1986 is efficient enough to regulate the modern techniques used to develop food. The regulation of biotechnology focuses on two points, one is the genetically modified plant itself, and second are the products that come from that plant. Three different agencies regulate genetically modified agricultural products in the United States. The three agencies are the Food and Drug Administration, Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and Environmental Protection Agency (Pew Initiative, 2003).

Agency	Position
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration	Reviews food safety relating to new plant varieties, dairy products, seafood, food additives and processing aids.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture	Regulates meat and poultry products, and the field testing of all genetically modified plants.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency	Regulates pesticide chemicals, and any new plant varieties designed to be resistant to pest attacks.

Impact of GM Foods on Agriculture:

The amount of acreage devoted to planting genetically modified crops has risen dramatically
(VCE, 1999). The most abundant crops grown world wide are soybean, corn, cotton, and canola
(VCE, 1999). Between the years of 1997 and 1998 the amount of transgenic crops grown rose 250%
(UCS, 2003). The traits engineered in the crops were predominantly geared towards herbicide and insect resistance. Herbicide tolerant soybean, insect resistant corn, herbicide tolerant canola, and herbicide tolerant cotton were the most predominate transgenic crops grown world wide
(UCS, 2003). Figure seven shows that in the year 2000 the top four GM crops grown and tested in twelve countries were soybean, corn, cotton, and canola.

"Major Transgenic Crops Grown in 12 Countries"

Figure 7 Major Transgenic Crops Grown (UCS, 2003).

"Bio-Pharming"

Genetically Modified foods with pharmaceutical proteins inserted into the plant (DSCS, 2004).
"Plant made Pharmaceuticals" (PMP) are engineered from genetically modified plants that produces compounds and specific proteins that are later purified (DSCS, 2004).

Fig 8. Bio-Pharming Processes (DSCS, 2004)

"Bio-Pharm Pills"
Fig. 9. Bio-Pharm Pills (DSCS, 2004)

Negative Effects on Environment

Pollen from "pharma-plants" can become fertilized in nearby similar plants and crops (DSCS, 2004).
The pharmaceuticals can then be produced causing harm to humans and animals who may eat them
Wildlife can be seriously harmed by eating toxic levels of the "pharma-crops" (DSCS, 2004).
Micro-organisms in the soil can become inhibited by the decomposing "pharma" matter (DSCS, 2004).
The workers handling the crops can absorb damaging amounts of pharmaceuticals through their skin and become ill (DSCS, 2004) .

Risks of Genetically Modified Foods:

Since genetically modified foods have been introduced into the market there have been many concerns about the risks and dangers that these GM foods might produce.

Health Risks

Different people are allergic to different things. Genetic Modification of food has the ability to combine traits from different organisms. The genetic modification of crops might add certain traits from one organism to another that could cause a allergic reaction. Some crops have been combined with DNA from another organism that in nature would have never been combined. For example a genetically modified tomato was implanted with a anti-freeze gene of fish to prevent frost bite (CTAHR, 2003). The mixing of DNA from two different organisms could cause an allergic reaction that could cause damage to peoples health.

Food Geneticists often add anti-biotic resistant genes to genetically modified crops to monitor if the plants have taken up exotic genes from outside sources. These antibiotic resistant genes could react with bacteria in human stomachs, and spread disease causing bacteria that could be resistant to the antibiotics that exist today (Tyson, 2001).

Impacts To Small Farming Industry:

There is a fear that the small farming industry would suffer greatly from genetically modified foods. Genetically modified crops can be patented and therefore farmers would have to buy the rights to the crops before they are planted. The prices are then in control of the companies that own the patent. It is possible that small farmers would not be able to keep up with other large farms that would be able to buy the rights to the patented crops.

Impact on "non-target" species:

"Monarch Butterfly"
Fig 10. Monarch Butterfly. (DSCS, 2004)

Genetically modified crops have the ability to have adverse effects on the environment that were not planned on. Transgenic crops can effect the environment by killing off natural organisms. Bt corn is a genetically modified corn that is grown in the United States. Research showed that once the corn was planted the pollen from the corn killed Monarch butterfly caterpillars (CTAHR, 2003). There is no way of researching every single effect that genetically modified crops could have on the environment. There for GM crops are planted and grown and later negative results are found.

Labeling

In the United States there are no laws stating that genetically modified foods have to be labeled as such. Genetically modified foods have flooded the US markets, but many people would never know, because of the lack of labeling. There is huge controversy over whether or not it should be mandatory for genetically modified foods to be labeled. Further issue arises when genetically modified foods are mixed with non-GM foods, and then labeling become complicated and confusing (HGMIS, 2003).

President Bush's View on Genetically Modified Foods

President Bush is heavily in favor of genetically modified foods. The President feels that genetically modified foods are the way to solve hunger issues in third world countries. In Krakow, Poland, President Bush made a speech to European Union members in favor of using genetically modified foods.
"I hope European governments will reconsider policies that discourage farmers in developing countries from using safe biotechnology to feed their own people. America and Europe must work closely to develop and apply new technologies, that will improve our air and water quality and protect the health of the world's people (Longley,nd)."

Fig 11. President Bush.
(Harpham, 2004)

Fig 12. Map of Africa. (Gibbs, 2002)

President Bush has gone farther to say that because European countries are against genetically modified foods, they are causing people to go hungry in third world countries (Buell, 2003). One country in particular that has been used as an example of an ideal use for Genetically Modified crops was the country of Africa. For the past few years Africa has been undergoing one of the worst famines that it has ever seen. In 2002 the world health organization estimated that roughly fourteen million people were at risk of starvation. They also estimated that the country would need about 1.1 million tons of grain to help with the starvation. Controversy arose when the United States offered 540,000 tons of grain that contained genetically modified grains (Micheal, 2002).

References

American Public Power Association (APPA), 2004. Hometown Connections. Retrieved on March 29, 2004 from http://www.hometownconnections.com/contact.html

Bren Linda, 2003. Genetic Engineering: The Future of Foods? Retrieved on February 10, 2004 from http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2003/603_html.

Buell John, 2003. Old Europe and New GM Foods. Retrieved on March 15, 2004 from http://www.globalpolicy.org/socecon/ffd/2003/0624old.htm#author.

College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR), 2003. Health Related Issues. Retrieved on February 17, 2004 from http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/ctahr2001/.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), 2003. Introduction to Genetically Modified Organisms. Retrieved on February 3, 2004 from http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/gm/background/index.htm.

Department of Soil and Crop Sciences (DSCS) at Colorado State University, 2004. What are Transgenic Plants? Retrieved on March 30, 2004 from http://www.colostate.edu/programs/lifesciences/TransgenicCrops/what.html

Department of Soil and Crop Sciences (DSCS) at Colorado State University, 2004. Bio-Pharming. Retrieved on March 30, 2004 from http://www.colostate.edu/programs/lifesciences/TransgenicCrops/hotbiopharm.html

Department of Soil and Crop Sciences (DSCS) at Colorado State University, 2004. Risks and Concerns. Retrieved on March 30, 2004 from http://www.colostate.edu/programs/lifesciences/TransgenicCrops/hotbiopharm.html

Environmental News Network (ENN),1999. U.S., Europe react differently over GM foods. Retrieved on February 10, 2004 from http://www.enn.com/news/enn-stories/1999/07/070799/gmfoods_3999.asp.

Food Coop United (FCU), 2003. Keep Maine Free From Genetically Engineered Crops. Retrieved March 5, 2004 from http://www.keepmainefree.org

Food Standards Agency,2003 (FSA). GM Food Debate. Retrieved on February 18, 2004 from http://www.foodstandards.gov.uk/gmdebate/gm_glossary?view=GM%20Microsite

Gibbs David, 2002. Government and Politics in Africa. Retrieved on March 30, 2004 from www.library.arizona.edu/.../ pol468/pol468.html

Harpham Edward, 2004. American Government. Retrieved March 30, 2004 from http://www.utdallas.edu/~harpham/toppage11.htm.

Human Genome Management Information System (HGMIS), 2003. Genetically Modified Foods and Organisms. Retrieved on February 3, 2004 from http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/gmfood.shtml

Longley Robert. Bush calls on EU to embrace genetically altered crops. Retrieved on February 18, 2004 from http://www.usgovinfo.about.com/cs/consumer/a/aagmfoods.htm

Micheal Meron Tesfa, 2002. Africa Bites the Bullet on Genetically Modified Food Aid. Retrieved March 15, 2004 from http://www.worldpress.org/Africa/737.cfm.

Ministry For the Environment, ND (Govt). Genetic Modification. Retrieved March 23, 2004 from http://www.gm.govt.nz/ten.shtml

National Centre for Biotechnology Education (NCBE), 2004. The Technology. Retrieved on February 18, 2004 from http://www.ncbe.reading.ac.uk/NCBE/GMFOOD/technology.html

Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology, 2003. Guide to U.S. Regulation of Genetically Modified Food and Agriculture Biotechnology Products. Retrieved on February 4, 2004 from Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology, 2003. Guide to U.S. Regulation of Genetically Modified Food and Agriculture Biotechnology Products. Retrieved on February 4, 2004 from http://www.pewagbiotech.org/resources/issuebriefs/.

Scope Research Group,2004. Debate about GM Food. Retrieved on February 3, 2004 from http://scope.educ.washington.edu/gmfood/

Tyson, 2001. Harvest of Fear. Retrieved on March 29, 2004 from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/harvest/engineer/transgen.html

Union of Concerned Scientists , 2003(UCS). Biotechnology. Retrieved on February 11, 2004 from http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_environment/biotechnology/index.cfm

Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE), 1999. Update on 1998 Transgenic Crop Acreages. Retrieved on February 11, 2004 from http://filebox.vt.edu/cals/cses/chagedor/98acreages.html