It’s highly probable that you are consuming foods and food products made with ingredients derived from bioengineered crops. Many bioengineered crops are processed into common food ingredients in the American diet, such as cornstarch, corn syrup, corn oil, soybean oil, canola oil, or granulated sugar. A limited selection of fresh fruits and vegetables is also available in bioengineered varieties, including potatoes, summer squash, apples, papayas, and pink pineapples. While bioengineered ingredients are present in a significant portion of our food supply, the majority of bioengineered crops cultivated in the United States are used for animal feed.
To increase transparency and help consumers identify foods containing bioengineered ingredients, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides a list of bioengineered foods commercially available worldwide. Furthermore, you will soon notice a “bioengineered” label appearing on certain food products due to the implementation of the new National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard.
Understanding Bioengineered Foods: From Farm to Table
Where are Bioengineered Foods Commonly Found?
Alt text: “Where to Find Bioengineered Foods: Learn about common food sources of GMO ingredients.”
For more detailed information, you can refer to this PDF document (131KB).
Bioengineered Crops in U.S. Agriculture
Alt text: “Infographic: Bioengineered Crops Grown and Sold in the U.S. – Explore GMO crop statistics and types.”
Explore further details in this PDF infographic (152KB).
What Bioengineered Crops Are Grown in the United States?
While the variety of bioengineered crops grown in the United States is relatively small, some of these crops constitute a large proportion of the total acreage planted for specific commodities. Examples include soybeans, corn, sugar beets, canola, and cotton.
In 2020, bioengineered soybeans accounted for 94% of all soybeans planted, bioengineered cotton represented 96% of all cotton planted, and 92% of the corn planted was bioengineered corn.
Looking back to 2013, bioengineered canola made up 95% of the canola planted, while bioengineered sugar beets comprised 99.9% of all sugar beets harvested.
The primary use of most bioengineered plants is to produce ingredients that are subsequently used in other food products. For instance, cornstarch can be derived from bioengineered corn, and sugar can be produced from bioengineered sugar beets.
Alt text: “Common Bioengineered Crops: Visual representation of corn, soybean, cotton, and sugar beet, key GMO crops.”
Corn:
Corn stands as the most extensively cultivated crop in the United States, with a significant majority being bioengineered. The principal modifications in bioengineered corn are for insect pest resistance or herbicide tolerance. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn is a type of bioengineered corn that produces proteins toxic to specific insect pests but harmless to humans, pets, livestock, and other animals. These proteins are similar to those used by organic farmers for insect pest control and do not harm beneficial insects like ladybugs. Bioengineered Bt corn reduces the need for insecticide sprays while effectively preventing insect damage. Although a considerable amount of bioengineered corn is used in processed foods and beverages, the largest portion is used as feed for livestock, such as cattle, and poultry, such as chickens.
Soybean:
The majority of soybeans grown in the United States are bioengineered. The primary applications of bioengineered soybeans are for animal feed, predominantly for poultry and livestock, and for the production of soybean oil. Soybean derivatives, such as lecithin, emulsifiers, and proteins, are also used as ingredients in various processed foods.
Cotton:
Bioengineered cotton was developed to resist bollworms and played a crucial role in revitalizing the cotton industry in Alabama. Beyond providing a reliable cotton source for the textile industry, bioengineered cotton is also processed to produce cottonseed oil, used in packaged foods and extensively in restaurants for frying. Bioengineered cottonseed meal and hulls are also utilized in animal feed formulations.
Potato:
Certain varieties of bioengineered potatoes have been developed to exhibit resistance to insect pests and diseases. Additionally, some bioengineered potato varieties are engineered to resist bruising and browning that can occur during packaging, storage, transportation, or even when cut in home kitchens. While browning does not affect potato quality, it often leads to unnecessary food waste as people mistakenly believe browned food is spoiled.
Papaya:
In the 1990s, the ringspot virus disease severely impacted Hawaii’s papaya crop, nearly decimating the papaya industry in the state. A bioengineered papaya, known as the Rainbow papaya, was created to resist the ringspot virus. This bioengineered innovation saved papaya farming in the Hawaiian Islands.
Summer Squash:
Bioengineered summer squash exhibits resistance to certain plant viruses. Squash was among the early bioengineered crops to reach the market, although its cultivation is not widespread.
Canola:
Bioengineered canola is primarily utilized for producing cooking oil and margarine. Canola seed meal also serves as a component in animal feed. Canola oil is a common ingredient in many packaged foods, contributing to improved food consistency. Most bioengineered canola is herbicide-tolerant, simplifying weed control for farmers in their fields.
Alfalfa:
Bioengineered alfalfa is mainly used as feed for cattle, particularly dairy cows. The majority of bioengineered alfalfa is herbicide-tolerant, enabling farmers to apply herbicides to protect crops from destructive weeds that can reduce alfalfa production and diminish the nutritional value of hay.
Apple:
A few varieties of bioengineered apples have been developed to resist browning after cutting. This trait helps reduce food waste, as many consumers mistakenly believe browned apples are spoiled.
Sugar Beet:
Sugar beets are the source of granulated sugar. Over half of the granulated sugar packaged for retail shelves originates from bioengineered sugar beets. The herbicide tolerance of bioengineered sugar beets assists farmers in managing weeds in their fields.
Pink Pineapple:
The bioengineered pink pineapple was developed to have pink flesh by increasing lycopene levels. Lycopene is a naturally occurring pigment in pineapples, responsible for the red color in tomatoes and the pink hue in watermelons.
What About Animals Consuming Bioengineered Animal Feed?
Over 95% of animals raised for meat and dairy in the United States consume bioengineered crops as feed. Independent scientific studies have consistently demonstrated that there are no discernible differences in the impact of bioengineered and non-Bioengineered Foods on animal health and safety. The DNA from bioengineered feed does not transfer to the animal that consumes it. This means that animals consuming bioengineered feed do not become bioengineered organisms themselves. If such DNA transfer were to occur, animals would incorporate the DNA of every food they consumed, bioengineered or not. To illustrate, cows do not transform into grass, and chickens do not become corn simply by eating these foods.
Alt text: “Animals and Bioengineered Feed: Illustration showing cows and chickens consuming GMO feed, emphasizing food safety for animals.”
Similarly, the DNA from bioengineered animal feed does not carry over into meat, eggs, or milk derived from these animals. Research indicates that food products such as eggs, dairy, and meat from animals fed bioengineered feed are equivalent in nutritional value, safety, and overall quality to those from animals fed exclusively non-bioengineered feed.
To delve deeper, explore Bioengineered Crops and Food for Animals.
Ensuring the Safety of Animal Feed: Who is Responsible?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the primary regulatory body overseeing the safety of both bioengineered and non-bioengineered animal feed. Within the FDA, the Center for Veterinary Medicine is specifically tasked with this responsibility. The FDA mandates that all animal feed, mirroring human food regulations, must be safe for consumption, produced under sanitary conditions, free from harmful substances, and accurately labeled.
Are Bioengineered Animals Part of the Food Supply?
Yes, bioengineered animals are entering the food supply. The FDA has approved the AquAdvantage Salmon for consumer sale. This salmon is genetically engineered to reach market size more rapidly. The FDA has also approved a modification in the GalSafe pig for both human food consumption and potential therapeutic applications. The GalSafe pig is engineered to be devoid 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 (e.g., beef, pork, and lamb). The FDA has concluded that food derived from AquAdvantage Salmon and GalSafe pigs is as safe and nutritious as food from their non-bioengineered counterparts.
Beyond Food: Other Applications of Bioengineering
While “bioengineered” often brings food to mind, the techniques employed to create bioengineered organisms are also crucial in medicine. In fact, genetic engineering, the process behind bioengineered organisms, was first used to produce human insulin, a vital medicine for diabetes management. Medicines developed through genetic engineering undergo a rigorous FDA approval process, ensuring safety and efficacy before being approved for human use. Bioengineered organisms also play a role in industries beyond food and medicine, such as the textile industry. Certain bioengineered cotton plants are cultivated to produce cotton fiber used in fabric manufacturing for clothing and other textiles.
Learn more about How Bioengineered Organisms Are Regulated in the United States.
