-
-
-
As in most debates between naturalists and the scientific community the topic of natural foods verses those cultivated from GMOs is hotter than ever. In this series of articles we will broach the topic of GMOs to further your understanding of the issue at hand.
-
-
Overview
Genetic modification of food is not new.
For centuries, food crops and animals have been altered through selective breeding. While genes can be transferred during selective breeding, the scope for exchanging genetic material is much wider using genetic engineering. In theory, genetic engineering allows genetic material to be transferred between any organism, including between plants and animals. For example, the gene from a fish that lives in very cold seas has been inserted into a strawberry, allowing the fruit to be frost-tolerant.
By far the most common genetically modified (GM) organisms are crop plants. But the technology has now been applied to almost all forms of life, from pets that glow under UV light to bacteria which form HIV blocking “living condoms” and from pigs bearing spinach genes to goats that produce spider silk.
When did genetically modified foods originate?
Between 1997 and 1999, gene-modified (GM) ingredients suddenly appeared in 2/3rds of all US processed foods. This food alteration was fueled by a single Supreme Court ruling. It allowed, for the first time, the patenting of life forms for commercialization. Since then thousands of applications for experimental GM organisms have been filed with the US Patent Office alone, and many more abroad.
The first commercially grown genetically modified whole food crop was the tomato (called Flavr Savr), which was made more resistant to rotting by Californian company Calgene. The tomatoes were released into the market in 1994 without any special labeling.
In February 1996, J. Sainsbury and Safeway Stores in the United Kingdom introduced Europe’s first genetically-modified food product. A variant of the Flavr Savr was used by Zeneca to produce tomato paste which was sold in Europe during the summer of 1996. Following GM crops included insect resistant cotton and herbicide-tolerant soybeans both of which were commercially available in 1996.
In 2003, countries that grew 99 % of the global transgenic crops were the United States (63 %), Argentina (21 %), Canada (6 %), Brazil (4 %), China (4 %), and South Africa (1 %) and today the Grocery Manufacturers of America estimate that 75 % of all processed foods in the U.S. contain a GM ingredient.
Between 1995 and 2005, the total surface area of land cultivated with GMOs had increased by a factor of 50, from 17,000 km² (4.2 million acres) to 900,000 km² (222 million acres), of which 55 percent were in Brazil.
In the US, by 2006 89 % of the planted area of soybeans, 83 % of cotton, and 61 % maize were genetically modified varieties.
Today many GM crops are grown in North America. India has also come aboard the bandwagon in 2002 with a rapid and continuing expansion of GM cotton varieties.
“Genetic engineering is inherently dangerous, because it greatly expands the scope for horizontal gene transfer and recombination, precisely the processes that create new viruses and bacteria that cause disease epidemics, and trigger cancer in cells.” – Dr. Mae-Wan Ho
The Problem
The way we see it the problem of GMOs being used on our food supply is three fold. For most Americans it is a question of civil liberty. For the time being American consumers have the right to eat the kinds of foods that they desire. They have the right to chose weather they consume GMO foods or not. Or do they?
There are no labeling requirements imposed on those who grow GMO crops or produce processed or natural foods for that matter, As has been stated above GM ingredients can be found in 2/3rds of the processed foods consumed by Americans. It is also known that these GMO crops find their way into our food chain and subsequently onto our family dinner table, through livestock which feeds on these GMO products.
The Bottom Line here is that weather we trust in the science behind these products or not, weather the products are believed to be safe or not or weather we want to consume these products or not WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT WE ARE PUTTING INTO OUR BODIES AND THAT CHOICE HAS BEEN TAKEN FROM US in terms of GMOs and our food supply.
Be on the look out for Part 2 of this series where we will discuss the controversy surrounding GMOs in terms of their relative safety.
Incoming search terms for the article:
- genetic modification (232)
- genetically modified organisms (189)
- transgenic organism (101)
- genetic modified food (91)
- gmos (89)
- transgenic organisms (84)
- transgenic food (82)
- Which of the following has not been a significant issue in the creation of genetically modified (GM) organisms? (61)
- gmo products (47)
- genetically modified plants (45)
- genetically modified fruit (40)
- genetically modified organism (40)
- GM fruit (37)
- genetic modification of food (34)
- genetic engineering IN FOOD (31)
- genetic engineering food (29)
- genetically modified products (29)
- genetically modified food (27)
- gmo fruit (25)
- gene modification (24)
Related Websites -
Natural Appetite Suppressants To suppress the appetite safely and in a healthy way, the best ways are to either eat high-fiber foods and drink a lot of water or to use safe organic natural weight suppressants. Both these methods help to keep the stomach full and, therefore, suppresses the appetite. Since hunger pains...... -
The Advantages of Organic Gardening As you all know, this is my first year experimenting with container gardening. I have to admit that I have fallen in love with it. I check my plants every day, photo document their progress, and share the updates with my friends and family. Not only has it been fun...... -
Even More Tips for Getting More Fruits and Vegetables Most people are not getting enough fruits and vegetables, despite the fact that there is such a large variety to choose from. Here are some great tips for how you can get pack more healthy fruits and vegetables into your life for a number of added health benefits that will...... -
What's in the News- Edition #6 This will be the last edition of What's in the News. It was an experiment I was trying to get some discussion going, however, the dialouge has been pretty quiet. I hope you have enjoyed the tidbits that were shared and please stay tuned for more interesting articles on...... -
Weight Loss with Flavorful Foods One of the major problems these days with weight loss diets is that the foods that need to be eaten on a daily basis are usually bland. This is very important because some people fall out of their diet regime due to the fact that they crave tastier foods (which......