Genetically Modified Foods By Kayla Slater Nutrition Education

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Overview Learning Objectives Facts and Statistics What are GM foods? Process of GMOs Pros of GM foods Cons of GM foods Conclusions Questions

Learning Objectives After this presentation, students will be able to:

Define what GM foods are and how they are created

Know the benefits (pros) of GM foods

Know the health risks/environmental impact (cons) of GM foods

Facts and Statistics U.S. is the largest producer of GMOs (68%) Only four countries grow almost 90% of the total GM crops Worldwide, only 7.5% of farmland is planted with GMOs Most GM crops are herbicide-tolerant and/or insect-resistance Corn, canola, soybean, and cotton are the top genetically modified plants 60-70% of processed foods contain GMOs

What are GM foods? Foods derived from organisms whose DNA has been modified Highly controversial

Process of GM foods 1. identify gene(s) 2. isolate gene 3. insert gene into organism 4. grow in lab 5. if successful, plant seeds 6. if successful, make commercially available

Pros of GM foods Increase nutrient content Improve taste Increase pest and disease resistance Decrease use of pesticides Increase supply of food/yield Reduces famine and starvation Promise of more harvests

Pros of GM Foods continued Reduces cost (less pesticides used) Longer shelf life Grows faster Desirable traits Medicinal foods Improves efficiencies in production

Supporters of GMOs WHO – GM foods are not likely to present risks for human health FDA – generally regarded as safe, although there is no adequate testing, but no reports of illness or injury David Zilberman, U.C. Berkely agricultural and environmental economist – the benefits of GM crops greatly outweigh health risks U.S. government – “GM crops are safe, resist disease better, and can provide much-needed food in starving nations.”

Cons of GM foods Potential Health Risks: • Changes can be unexpected and harmful• New genes in foods can be harmful • Introduction of allergens and toxins • Accidental contamination • Antibiotic resistance • Adversely changing nutrient content

Cons of GM Foods continued Environment impact: • Extinction of plants • Less resistant to some pests and more susceptible to others• Loss of genetic diversity • Genetic catastrophe

Opponents of GMOs Europe – resistant to using biotechnology; created

regulations/labeling Little is known about the long-term affect Consumers lack trust in producers and want labeling/stricter

regulations Ethical concerns (global, societal, and individualistic)

Conclusion GM foods are highly controversial Many pros of GM foods Many cons of GM foods

References Baker, G.A. & Burnham, T. A. (2001, Dec.). Consumer Response to Genetically Modified

Foods: Market Segment Analysis and Implications for Producers and Policy Makers. Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 26 (2), 387-403. Retrieved from http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/bitstream/31045/1/26020387.pdf

Barash, C.I. (2008). Just Genes: The Ethics of Genetic Technologies. Retrieved fromhttp://ehis.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.oneonta.edu:2048/ehost/detail?sid=6c66adc7-67da-482c-aa16-de0edaf1a21e%40sessionmgr113&vid=1&hid=104&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2Z Q%3d

%3d#db=nlebk&AN=218246

Catini, A. (2009, Jan-Feb). Benefits and Concerns Associated with Biotechnology Derived Foods: Can Additional Research Reduce Children Health Risks? European Review for Medical and

Pharmacological Sciences, 13 (1), 41-50. Retrieved from http://ehis.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.oneonta.edu:2048/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=cc7bc8d-3d69 4f0d-8be3-a36f3b254d06%40sessionmgr10&vid=9&hid=2

References continued Freedman, D.H. (2013, Sept.). Are Engineered Foods Evil? Scientific American, 309 (3), 80-86.

Retrieved from http://ehis.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.oneonta.edu:2048/eds/detail?vid=4&sid=cc7bfc8d-3d69-4f0d-

8be3a36f3b254d06@sessionmgr10&hid=6&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU=#db=edsgao&AN=edsgcl.3424853 43

Frewer, L., Lassen, J., Kettlitz, B., Scholderer, J., Beekman, V., Berdal, K.G. (2004, July). Societal Aspects of Genetically Modified Foods. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 43 (7), 1181-1193.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2004.02.002

Godheja, J. (2013, May). Impact of GMO’s on Environment and Human Health. Recent Research in Science & Technology, 5 (5), 26-29. Retrieved from

http://ehis.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.oneonta.edu:2048/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=cc7bfc8d-3d69-4f0d-8be3-a36f3b254d06%40sessionmgr10&vid=7&hid=2

Green Peace European Unit (2008, April). Facts and Figures About Genetically Modified Organisms. Retrieved from http://www.greenpeace.de/fileadmin/gpd/user_upload/themen/gentechnik/GMOs_facts___figs_02.pdf

References continued Heit, J. (2013, March 22). Genetically Engineered Foods. Retrieved from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002432.htm

Kolb, R.W. (2007). The Ethics of Genetic Commerce. Retrieved from http://ehis.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.oneonta.edu:2048/ehost/detail?sid=c242638f-3368-

42dba790749b9a870c31%40sessionmgr111&vid=1&hid=104&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=nlebk&AN=202246

Kuiper, H. A., Kleter, G. A., Noteborn, H. P., Kok, E. J. (2001, Sept.). Assessment of food safety issues related to genetically modified foods. The plant journal, 27 (6), 503-528. doi:

10.1046/j.1365-313X.2001.01119.x

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2013, April 7). Questions and Answers on Food from Genetically Engineered Plants. Retrieved from

http://www.fda.gov/food/foodscienceresearch/biotechnology/ucm346030.htm

References continued WebMD (2013). Are Biotech Foods Safe to Eat? Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/are-biotech-foods-safe-to-eat

World Health Organization (2013). Food, Genetically modified. Retrieved fromhttp://www.who.int/topics/food_genetically_modified/en/

Questions?