Are you eating Gm Foods? It’s highly probable that you are. Many common foods and food products in our diets contain ingredients derived from genetically modified (GM) crops. These ingredients are staples in kitchens across America, including cornstarch, corn syrup, corn oil, soybean oil, canola oil, and even granulated sugar. While the majority of GM crops contribute to these processed ingredients, a selection of fresh fruits and vegetables are also available in GM varieties, such as potatoes, summer squash, apples, papayas, and distinctive pink pineapples. Interestingly, even though gm foods are prevalent in what we consume, most of the GM crops cultivated in the United States are primarily used to feed animals.
To help consumers navigate the landscape of food ingredients, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides a comprehensive list of bioengineered foods that are commercially available worldwide. Furthermore, you may have already noticed or will soon begin to see a “bioengineered” label on certain food products. This is a direct result of the new National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard, designed to increase transparency and inform consumers about the presence of bioengineered ingredients in their food.
What Exactly Are GM Foods and Where Do You Find Them?
Often referred to as genetically modified organisms (GMOs) or bioengineered foods, gm foods are derived from crops that have undergone genetic engineering. This process involves altering the genetic makeup of plants to introduce desirable traits. These traits can range from pest resistance and herbicide tolerance to enhanced nutritional value or improved shelf life.
While the concept of genetic modification might sound novel, humans have been modifying the genetics of plants and animals for millennia through selective breeding. Genetic engineering, however, allows for more precise and targeted changes.
Where are GM foods commonly found?
- Processed Foods: A significant portion of gm foods ends up as ingredients in processed foods. Look for corn-based ingredients (cornstarch, corn syrup, corn oil), soy-based ingredients (soybean oil, soy lecithin), canola oil, and sugar (from sugar beets).
- Animal Feed: The majority of GM crops grown in the U.S. are used as animal feed for livestock and poultry. This means that meat, dairy, and eggs you consume may come from animals that have eaten gm foods.
- Fresh Produce: While less common than processed food ingredients, some fresh produce items are available in GM varieties, including potatoes, summer squash, apples, papayas, and pink pineapples.
GM Crops in the U.S.: A Detailed Overview
Although the variety of gm foods crops grown in the United States is relatively limited, these crops constitute a significant portion of the total acreage for certain staples. For example, soybeans, corn, sugar beets, canola, and cotton are predominantly grown as GMO varieties.
In 2020, an overwhelming 94% of all soybeans planted were GMO soybeans, 96% of cotton was GMO cotton, and 92% of corn was GMO corn. The adoption of GM varieties is equally high for other crops. By 2013, 95% of canola planted was genetically modified, and a staggering 99.9% of sugar beets harvested were GMO sugar beets.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the key gm foods crops grown in the United States:
Corn: Corn is the most extensively cultivated crop in the U.S., with a large majority being genetically modified. The primary genetic modifications in corn are for insect pest resistance and herbicide tolerance. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn, a type of GMO corn, produces proteins that are toxic to specific insect pests. These proteins are harmless to humans, pets, livestock, and beneficial insects like ladybugs, and are also used in organic farming. Bt corn reduces the need for insecticide sprays while effectively controlling insect damage. While a portion of GMO corn is processed into food and beverages for human consumption, the largest share is used as feed for livestock and poultry.
Soybean: Similar to corn, the vast majority of soybeans grown in the U.S. are genetically modified. GMO soybeans are primarily used for animal feed, particularly for poultry and livestock, and for soybean oil production. They also serve as ingredients like lecithin, emulsifiers, and proteins in various processed foods.
Cotton: Genetic modification of cotton has played a crucial role in revitalizing the cotton industry, particularly in regions like Alabama, by making it resistant to bollworms. Beyond textiles, GMO cotton is a source of cottonseed oil, used in packaged foods and restaurants for frying. Cottonseed meal and hulls from GMO cotton are also valuable components of animal feed.
Potato: Certain varieties of GMO potatoes have been developed to combat insect pests and diseases. Additionally, some GM potatoes are engineered to resist bruising and browning during packaging, storage, transportation, and even when cut at home. While browning doesn’t affect potato quality, it often leads to unnecessary food waste due to misperceptions about spoilage.
Papaya: In the 1990s, the ringspot virus nearly decimated Hawaii’s papaya crop and the entire papaya industry. The development of the GMO papaya, known as the Rainbow papaya, which is resistant to the ringspot virus, was instrumental in saving papaya farming in Hawaii.
Summer Squash: GMO summer squash offers resistance to certain plant viruses. While squash was among the early gm foods available commercially, its cultivation is not as widespread as other GM crops.
Canola: GMO canola is primarily processed into cooking oil and margarine. Canola seed meal is also used in animal feed. Canola oil is favored in the food industry for its ability to improve food consistency. Most GMO canola is herbicide-tolerant, simplifying weed control for farmers.
Alfalfa: GMO alfalfa is mainly used as feed for cattle, especially dairy cows. The primary genetic modification in GMO alfalfa is herbicide resistance, enabling farmers to control weeds that can reduce alfalfa production and nutritional quality.
Apple: Specific GMO apple varieties have been created to resist browning after cutting, aiming to reduce food waste associated with consumers discarding browned apples due to perceived spoilage.
Sugar Beet: Sugar beets are the source of granulated sugar. Over half of the granulated sugar available in grocery stores is derived from GMO sugar beets. Herbicide-resistant GMO sugar beets help farmers manage weeds effectively in their fields.
Pink Pineapple: The GMO pink pineapple is engineered to produce pink flesh by increasing lycopene levels. Lycopene, a natural pigment found in pineapples, is also responsible for the red color of tomatoes and the pink hue of watermelons.
What About Animals Eating GM Foods?
It’s noteworthy that over 95% of animals raised for meat and dairy in the United States consume gm foods. Numerous independent studies have consistently demonstrated that there are no discernible differences in health and safety outcomes between animals fed gm foods and those fed non-GMO foods. Crucially, the DNA from gm foods does not transfer to the animals that consume them. Animals do not become genetically modified by eating gm foods; if this were the case, animals would inherit the DNA of every food they eat, regardless of whether it is genetically modified or not. To illustrate, cows do not transform into grass, and chickens do not become corn simply by consuming these foods.
Similarly, the DNA from gm foods in animal feed does not find its way into meat, eggs, or milk. Research has confirmed that eggs, dairy products, and meat derived from animals that have consumed gm foods are nutritionally equivalent, safe, and of the same quality as foods from animals fed exclusively non-GMO diets.
For more in-depth information, explore GMO Crops and Food for Animals.
Ensuring the Safety of Animal Feed
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the primary regulatory body responsible for ensuring the safety of both GMO and non-GMO animal feed. The FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine oversees this critical function. The FDA mandates that all animal feed, mirroring regulations for human food, must be safe for animal consumption, produced under sanitary conditions, free from harmful substances, and accurately labeled.
Are There GMO Animals in Our Food Supply?
Yes, there are. The FDA has approved the AquAdvantage Salmon for consumer sale. This salmon is genetically modified to reach market size faster than non-GMO salmon. Additionally, the FDA has approved genetic alterations in the GalSafe pig for both human consumption and potential therapeutic applications. The GalSafe pig is engineered to be free of detectable alpha-gal sugar on its cell surfaces, addressing concerns for individuals with Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), who may experience allergic reactions to alpha-gal sugar found in red meat. The FDA has concluded that food derived from AquAdvantage Salmon and GalSafe pigs is as safe and nutritious as food from their non-GMO counterparts.
Beyond Food: Other Applications of GMOs
While gm foods are the most commonly discussed application of GMOs, the techniques used to create them are also vital in medicine and other industries. Genetic engineering, the process behind GMO creation, was initially used to produce human insulin, a life-saving medication for diabetes. Medicines developed through genetic engineering undergo rigorous FDA review to ensure safety and efficacy before approval for human use. GMOs also play a role in the textile industry, with some GMO cotton plants engineered to produce cotton fiber for clothing and other materials.
To delve deeper into the regulatory framework, explore How GMOs Are Regulated in the United States.
In conclusion, gm foods are a significant part of our food system, offering various benefits in agriculture and beyond. They undergo rigorous safety assessments and are a subject of ongoing scientific research and public discussion. Understanding gm foods is crucial for informed decision-making about our food choices.
