Genetically Modified Foods

1. Genetically Modified Foods By Kayla Slater Nutrition Education

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

3. 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

4. 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

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

7. 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

8. 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

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

10. 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.”

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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)

14. Conclusion • GM foods are highly controversial • Many pros of GM foods • Many cons of GM foods

15. 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 from http://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

16. 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

17. 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=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbG l2ZQ%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

18. 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 from http://www.who.int/topics/food_genetically_modified/en/

19. Questions?