Genes are the blueprints of every part of an organism. Foods that have had foreign genes inserted into their genetic codes are called genetically engineered or bio engineered foods. Genetic Engineering can be done to plants, animals or microorganisms. According to the FDA, "genetically engineered foods must adhere to the same high standards of safety under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act that apply to more traditional food products." Where do you find genetically engineered foods? Foods are genetically modified or engineered to transfer desirable qualities from one organism to another. A tomato was the first genetically engineered whole food product. Designed for its ability to resist rotting, the tomato FlavrSavr first went on the market in 1994. Today more than 50 genetically engineered foods have been determined to be safe alternatives by the FDA. The Grocery Manufacturers of America estimates that between 70-75% of all processed foods in US grocery stores may contain ingredients from genetically engineered plants. Some benefits of genetically engineered foods include:
Some of the potential risks include:
The following is a list of genetically engineered crops that have been approved for sale:
Many genetically engineered foods are derived from canola, corn, cotton, and soy. These crop derivatives are commonly found in processed foods such as bread, pasta, candies, ice cream, pies, biscuits, margarine, meat products and vegetarian meat analogs. In a few years it may be almost impossible to find natural food. It seems that the food industry and government assume that newly derived foods are not substantially different from existing foods and pose no special risks. This will be a hot topic for the future as labeling requests and debates continue. Many feel that genetic engineering, with its irreversible effects, are meddlesome and dangerous. What do you think? |
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