gmo's are a large part of our food market, but how much of the food we eat comes from a lab?
Approximately 60%+ of all processed foods that appear in our grocery stores contain at least one genetically processed product, most commonly soy and corn products. But what exactly is a GMO?
A GMO, or genetically modified organism, by definition is a "food or meat product that has had its DNA artificially altered in a lab by genes from other plants, animals, viruses, or bacteria, in order to produce foreign compounds in the food" (www.labelgmos.org/the_science_genetically_modified_foods_gmo). This is a process that changes the DNA of a product on the molecular level to make compounds not normally produced, such as soy plants producing their own pesticides or cows being genetically bred to create better milk that has been altered to produce a antibody for a virus. This is done by injecting foreign genes into the organisms cells.
A GMO, or genetically modified organism, by definition is a "food or meat product that has had its DNA artificially altered in a lab by genes from other plants, animals, viruses, or bacteria, in order to produce foreign compounds in the food" (www.labelgmos.org/the_science_genetically_modified_foods_gmo). This is a process that changes the DNA of a product on the molecular level to make compounds not normally produced, such as soy plants producing their own pesticides or cows being genetically bred to create better milk that has been altered to produce a antibody for a virus. This is done by injecting foreign genes into the organisms cells.
Currently, 50+ other countries have restrictions or full-out bans of GMO's. The UK, Russia, China, Japan, Mexico, Brazil and Australia all have laws that force all GMO's to be thoroughly tested by government officials until deemed acceptable to put on consumer markets and once on the markets, must be labeled. The United States doesn't require labeling of these products, nor are there laws controlling the producing of them. There have been NO long-term studies on the effects of these foods on humans, so the safety of them is completely unknown and left to chance.
According to the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), the only regulation in place at this time is the Substantial Equivalence Concept. This concept states that "companies are allowed to sell new foods without performing safety or toxicology tests as long as they are not too different in chemical composition to foods already on the market." This means that the product is tested by the manufacturer for changes in their product.
According to the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), the only regulation in place at this time is the Substantial Equivalence Concept. This concept states that "companies are allowed to sell new foods without performing safety or toxicology tests as long as they are not too different in chemical composition to foods already on the market." This means that the product is tested by the manufacturer for changes in their product.
GMO's have become an extensive part of our food system, but which crops are at the greatest risk for being lab-made?
Approximately...
-93% of soy
-88% of corn
-94% of cotton
-90% of canola seed
...are genetically modified in the United States Other crops also considered to be at "high risk" include alfalfa, papaya, sugar beets, zucchini and yellow summer squash.
Approximately...
-93% of soy
-88% of corn
-94% of cotton
-90% of canola seed
...are genetically modified in the United States Other crops also considered to be at "high risk" include alfalfa, papaya, sugar beets, zucchini and yellow summer squash.
Because the US doesn't require GMO's to be labeled, many products have "hidden" modified ingredients. The ingredients Glucose, Lecithin and Maltodextrin are often genetically modified and can be found in commonly consumed products such as soft drinks, baked goods, ice cream and chocolates, instant soups, crackers, and "snack foods."
Another ingredient is known as Aspartame. This is commonly used as an artificial sweetener, however it does pose major threats. This chemical can disrupt chemical signals that send to the brain, which tell you when you're full, making it so that you take in more calories than intended. It can also wear away your muscle structure, leaving torn and tattered tissue behind. This sweetener is found in diet soft drinks, chewing gum, fruit drinks and even in medicines.
Another ingredient is known as Aspartame. This is commonly used as an artificial sweetener, however it does pose major threats. This chemical can disrupt chemical signals that send to the brain, which tell you when you're full, making it so that you take in more calories than intended. It can also wear away your muscle structure, leaving torn and tattered tissue behind. This sweetener is found in diet soft drinks, chewing gum, fruit drinks and even in medicines.
Beside just eating something that has been artificially made in a lab (yuck!), these GMO's can cause health risks. A large contributor is a compound called Monosodium Glutamate (MSG). This is a flavor enhancer that works similarly to nicotine, making you want more and more of the product after eating it. The FDA, in 1995, affirmed that it had no long-term affects, however short-term reactions such as headaches, swelling, nausea, shortness of breath, fluttering of the heartbeat, chest pain and weakness could occur. Certain GMO products have been known to also cause major diseases such as diabetes, cancer and heart problems.
GMO's have been linked to thousands of cases of toxic and allergic reactions, thousands of sick, dead and sterile animals, and extensive damage to almost every organ in lab animals. According to a study in the UK, soy allergies and increased by 50% soon after GM (Genetically Modified) soy was introduced to the market, however the allergies were only for the GM soy and not the natural soy. The study stated that all of those with soy allergies only showed responses to the genetically modified brand of soy, proving it to be unfit and unsafe for the mass public. Another GMO known as Bt is found in corn and cotton. The industry that produces it claims in to be harmless, however it has failed multiple tests, resulting in intense allergies in humans and extreme immune responses and damage to the intestines in mice.
This topic relates to chapter 10 in APHG. Chapter ten talks about agriculture and all of its types, ins-and-outs, and how its markets work. When talking about the types of crops people grow, the debate about GMO's pops up. The debate basically is that there is one side that think that GMO's in the US should be labeled, while the other is against the labeling. They main issue with GMO's is that no one knows the long-term effects and if they are really healthy or not. If most of the food we are eating isn't coming from nature, is it safe for us to put in our bodies?
I chose this topic because I found the debate interesting. Those who want GMOs labeled pose a good argument, saying that we don't know the long-term health risks of the products, don't know what's really in our food due to added genes, and overall have no idea what we are really eating. The op-posers simply state that their product is no different than the normal due to testing that they performed and if its not different, then why should it be labeled?
I chose this topic because I found the debate interesting. Those who want GMOs labeled pose a good argument, saying that we don't know the long-term health risks of the products, don't know what's really in our food due to added genes, and overall have no idea what we are really eating. The op-posers simply state that their product is no different than the normal due to testing that they performed and if its not different, then why should it be labeled?
Additional Resources: http://www.organicauthority.com/foodie-buzz/7-gmo-infographics-you-may-have-missed
http://visualismdotorg.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/gmo-infographic-v2-10-25-2012.png
http://www.oilfreefun.com/2012_09_01_archive.html
http://visualismdotorg.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/gmo-infographic-v2-10-25-2012.png
http://www.oilfreefun.com/2012_09_01_archive.html
Sources: Websites
http://www.labelgmos.org/the_science_genetically_modified_foods_gmo
http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/about-our-products/product-faq/gmos
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/foodnut/09371.html
http://www.meetup.com/GMO-Free-Phoenix/
www.meetup.com/GMO
http://visual.ly/gmo-genetically-modified-organism (infographic)
http://visualismdotorg.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/gmo-infographic-v2-10-25-2012.png
http://rebloggy.com/post/fitblr-fitspo-health-exercise-fruit-fitness-workout-nutrition-infographic-gmo-nu/44939583484
http://www.nacentralohio.com/tag/gmo/ (Picture)
http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_11361.cfm
http://www.mommygreenest.com/3-facts-to-face-about-gmos/ (picture)
http://www.nongmoshoppingguide.com/brands/invisible-gm-ingredients.html
https://mindbodysouljp.wordpress.com/tag/non-gmo-project/ (picture)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspartame
http://notenoughgood.com/2011/04/food-first/trail-through-corn-field/
http://www.labelgmos.org/the_science_genetically_modified_foods_gmo
http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/about-our-products/product-faq/gmos
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/foodnut/09371.html
http://www.meetup.com/GMO-Free-Phoenix/
www.meetup.com/GMO
http://visual.ly/gmo-genetically-modified-organism (infographic)
http://visualismdotorg.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/gmo-infographic-v2-10-25-2012.png
http://rebloggy.com/post/fitblr-fitspo-health-exercise-fruit-fitness-workout-nutrition-infographic-gmo-nu/44939583484
http://www.nacentralohio.com/tag/gmo/ (Picture)
http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_11361.cfm
http://www.mommygreenest.com/3-facts-to-face-about-gmos/ (picture)
http://www.nongmoshoppingguide.com/brands/invisible-gm-ingredients.html
https://mindbodysouljp.wordpress.com/tag/non-gmo-project/ (picture)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspartame
http://notenoughgood.com/2011/04/food-first/trail-through-corn-field/
Sources: MLA
"What Are We Eating?" LabelGMOs. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 May 2014.
Byrne, P. "Labeling of Genetically Engineered Foods." Labeling of Genetically Engineered Foods. N.p., 08 Jan. 2014. Web. 24 May 2014.
"FAQ on GMOs." Whole Foods Market. Whole Foods Market, n.d. Web. 28 May 2014.
"Trail Through Corn Field." NotEnoughGoodcom. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 May 2014. (picture)
"Start Creating, Sharing & Exploring Great Visuals Today!" GMO? Genetically Modified Organism. N.p., 17 Oct. 2011. Web. 27 May 2014
"What Do You Know about GMOs? [Infographic]." Visualism. N.p., 25 Nov. 2012. Web. 28 May 2014. <http://visualism.org/2012/11/25/what-do-you-know-about-gmos-infographic/>
"(source)." • Fitblr Fitspo Health Exercise Fruit Fitness Workout Nutrition Infographic GMO Nutrition Label Taylormariefitness •. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 May 2014. <http://rebloggy.com/post/fitblr-fitspo-health-exercise-fruit-fitness-workout-nutrition-infographic-gmo-nu/44939583484>.
"GMO | NA Central Ohio." NA Central Ohio. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 May 2014. <http://www.nacentralohio.com/tag/gmo/>
Smith, Jeffrey. "Spilling the Beans: Unintended GMO Health Risks." Spilling the Beans: Unintended GMO Health Risks. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 May 2014. <http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_11361.cfm>.
Sarnoff, Rachel. "3 Facts to Face About GMO Foods - Mommy Greenest."Mommy Greenest. N.p., 14 Apr. 2013. Web. 28 May 2014. <http://www.mommygreenest.com/3-facts-to-face-about-gmos/>
"Invisible GM Ingredients." Invisible GM Ingredients. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 May 2014. <http://www.nongmoshoppingguide.com/brands/invisible-gm-ingredients.html>.
"Mind, Body and Soul." Mind Body and Soul. N.p., 18 Nov. 2012. Web. 28 May 2014. <https://mindbodysouljp.wordpress.com/tag/non-gmo-project/>.
"Aspartame." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 25 May 2014. Web. 26 May 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspartame>.
"What Are We Eating?" LabelGMOs. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 May 2014.
Byrne, P. "Labeling of Genetically Engineered Foods." Labeling of Genetically Engineered Foods. N.p., 08 Jan. 2014. Web. 24 May 2014.
"FAQ on GMOs." Whole Foods Market. Whole Foods Market, n.d. Web. 28 May 2014.
"Trail Through Corn Field." NotEnoughGoodcom. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 May 2014. (picture)
"Start Creating, Sharing & Exploring Great Visuals Today!" GMO? Genetically Modified Organism. N.p., 17 Oct. 2011. Web. 27 May 2014
"What Do You Know about GMOs? [Infographic]." Visualism. N.p., 25 Nov. 2012. Web. 28 May 2014. <http://visualism.org/2012/11/25/what-do-you-know-about-gmos-infographic/>
"(source)." • Fitblr Fitspo Health Exercise Fruit Fitness Workout Nutrition Infographic GMO Nutrition Label Taylormariefitness •. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 May 2014. <http://rebloggy.com/post/fitblr-fitspo-health-exercise-fruit-fitness-workout-nutrition-infographic-gmo-nu/44939583484>.
"GMO | NA Central Ohio." NA Central Ohio. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 May 2014. <http://www.nacentralohio.com/tag/gmo/>
Smith, Jeffrey. "Spilling the Beans: Unintended GMO Health Risks." Spilling the Beans: Unintended GMO Health Risks. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 May 2014. <http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_11361.cfm>.
Sarnoff, Rachel. "3 Facts to Face About GMO Foods - Mommy Greenest."Mommy Greenest. N.p., 14 Apr. 2013. Web. 28 May 2014. <http://www.mommygreenest.com/3-facts-to-face-about-gmos/>
"Invisible GM Ingredients." Invisible GM Ingredients. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 May 2014. <http://www.nongmoshoppingguide.com/brands/invisible-gm-ingredients.html>.
"Mind, Body and Soul." Mind Body and Soul. N.p., 18 Nov. 2012. Web. 28 May 2014. <https://mindbodysouljp.wordpress.com/tag/non-gmo-project/>.
"Aspartame." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 25 May 2014. Web. 26 May 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspartame>.