It’s highly probable that you’re consuming foods and food products containing ingredients derived from Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) crops. Many GMO crops are processed into common ingredients found in American diets, such as cornstarch, corn syrup, corn oil, soybean oil, canola oil, and granulated sugar. Additionally, certain fresh fruits and vegetables like potatoes, summer squash, apples, papayas, and pink pineapples are available as GMO varieties. While GMOs are present in a significant portion of our food supply, the majority of GMO crops cultivated in the United States are primarily utilized as animal feed.
To enhance transparency for consumers regarding the presence of GMO ingredients in their food, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) maintains a list of bioengineered foods accessible globally. Moreover, the implementation of the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard means you will begin to notice the “bioengineered” label on select food items.
GMOs: From Farm to Table
Discovering GMOs in Your Food
GMO Crops Cultivated in the U.S.
Which GMO Crops are Prevalent in the United States?
Although the United States cultivates only a limited variety of GMO crops, some of these account for a substantial proportion of total crop production. Examples include soybeans, corn, sugar beets, canola, and cotton.
In 2020, GMO soybeans constituted 94% of all soybean plantings, GMO cotton represented 96% of all cotton plantings, and 92% of corn planted was GMO corn.
In 2013, GMO canola accounted for 95% of canola plantings, while GMO sugar beets made up 99.9% of all sugar beets harvested.
Most GMO plants are processed into ingredients used in other food products. For instance, GMO corn can be used to produce cornstarch, and GMO sugar beets can be used to produce sugar.
Corn: As the most extensively cultivated crop in the United States, corn is predominantly GMO. The primary purpose of genetic modification in corn is to confer resistance to insect pests or tolerance to herbicides. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn, a type of GMO corn, produces proteins that are toxic to specific insect pests but harmless to humans, pets, livestock, and other animals. Notably, organic farmers also utilize these proteins for insect pest control, as they do not harm beneficial insects like ladybugs. GMO Bt corn effectively reduces the need for insecticide spraying while still preventing insect damage. While a considerable amount of GMO corn is incorporated into processed foods and beverages, the majority serves as feed for livestock, such as cows, and poultry, such as chickens.
Soybean: The majority of soybeans grown in the United States are GMO. The primary applications of GMO soy are for animal feed, predominantly for poultry and livestock, and for the production of soybean oil. It is also utilized as an ingredient (lecithin, emulsifiers, and proteins) in processed foods.
Cotton: GMO cotton was engineered to resist bollworms, which played a crucial role in revitalizing the Alabama cotton industry. In addition to providing a reliable source of cotton for the textile industry, GMO cotton is used to produce cottonseed oil, which is used in packaged foods and in many restaurants for frying. GMO cottonseed meal and hulls are also used in animal feed.
Potato: Certain GMO potatoes were developed for resistance against insect pests and diseases. Furthermore, some GMO potato varieties have been developed to resist bruising and browning that can occur during packaging, storage, transportation, or even cutting in the kitchen. While browning does not affect the potato’s quality, it often leads to unnecessary food waste due to the misconception that browned food is spoiled.
Papaya: In the 1990s, the ringspot virus disease devastated Hawaii’s papaya crop, nearly destroying the papaya industry in the state. A GMO papaya, named the Rainbow papaya, was created to resist ringspot virus. This GMO saved papaya farming on the Hawaiian Islands.
Summer Squash: GMO summer squash exhibits resistance to specific plant viruses. While squash was among the first GMOs introduced to the market, its cultivation is not widespread.
Canola: GMO canola is primarily used to produce cooking oil and margarine. Canola seed meal can also be used in animal feed. Canola oil is used in many packaged foods to improve food consistency. Most GMO canola is resistant to herbicides, enabling farmers to more easily control weeds in their fields.
Alfalfa: GMO alfalfa is primarily used to feed cattle, particularly dairy cows. Most GMO alfalfa is resistant to herbicides, enabling farmers to spray the crops to protect them against destructive weeds that can reduce alfalfa production and lower the nutritional quality of the hay.
Apple: Several varieties of GMO apples were developed to resist browning after being cut. This feature helps reduce food waste, as many consumers mistakenly believe that brown apples are spoiled.
Sugar Beet: Sugar beets are the source of granulated sugar. More than half of the granulated sugar packaged for grocery store shelves is produced from GMO sugar beets. Because GMO sugar beets are resistant to herbicides, their cultivation helps farmers control weeds in their fields.
Pink Pineapple: The GMO pink pineapple was developed to have pink flesh by increasing the levels of lycopene. Lycopene is naturally found in pineapples and is the pigment that makes tomatoes red and watermelons pink.
What About Animals Consuming GMO Crop-Based Feed?
More than 95% of animals raised for meat and dairy production in the United States consume GMO crops. Independent studies demonstrate that there are no discernable differences in how GMO and non-GMO foods affect the health and safety of animals. The DNA from GMO food is not transferred to the animal that consumes it. Therefore, animals that consume GMO feed do not become GMOs themselves. If this were to occur, an animal would acquire the DNA of every food it consumed, regardless of whether it was GMO or not. In essence, cows do not transform into the grass they consume, and chickens do not transform into the corn they eat.
Similarly, the DNA from GMO animal feed does not make its way into the meat, eggs, or milk produced by the animal. Research indicates that foods such as eggs, dairy products, and meat sourced from animals that consume GMO feed are equivalent in nutritional value, safety, and quality to foods produced from animals that consume only non-GMO feed.
Learn more about GMO Crops and Food for Animals.
Ensuring the Safety of Animal Feed
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) serves as the primary regulatory agency responsible for ensuring the safety of both GMO and non-GMO food intended for animal consumption. This responsibility is managed by the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine. The FDA mandates that all food for animals, like food for human consumption, must be safe for animals to eat, produced under sanitary conditions, free of harmful substances, and accurately labeled.
Are There GMO Animals in the Food Supply?
Yes. The FDA has approved the sale of AquAdvantage Salmon to consumers. AquAdvantage Salmon has been genetically modified to achieve a faster growth rate. The FDA has also approved an alteration in the GalSafe pig for human food consumption and potential therapeutic uses. The GalSafe pig was developed to be free of detectable alpha-gal sugar on its cell surfaces. People with Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) may have allergic reactions to alpha-gal sugar found in red meat (e.g., beef, pork, and lamb). The FDA has concluded that food from AquAdvantage Salmon and GalSafe pigs is as safe and nutritious as food from non-GMO salmon and pigs.
Beyond Food: Other Applications of GMOs
While the term “GMO” often evokes thoughts of food, the techniques employed to create GMOs are also crucial in the development of certain medicines. Genetic engineering, the process used to create GMOs, was initially used to produce human insulin, a medicine used to treat diabetes. Medicines developed through genetic engineering undergo a thorough FDA approval process. All medicines must be proven safe and effective before they are approved for human use. GMOs are also used in the textile industry. Some GMO cotton plants are used to create cotton fiber that is then used to make fabric for clothing and other materials.
