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Genetically Engineered Foods:
Overview
What is genetic engineering (GE) and how does it
differ from traditional breeding?
How prevalent are GE foods in our grocery store?
How does the govt. regulate these crops & foods?
FDA, USDA & EPA
Video: Harvest of Fear
GMO synonymous with genetic engineering
Discussion questions
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Traditional Breeding vs
Genetic Engineering
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Genetic Engineering
A technique in which genes can be taken
from one organism (plant, virus, bacteria,
animal) and transferred to another, in this
case a plant.
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How Common are Genetically
Engineered Foods?
1996, govt. approved genetically engineered crops mixed
with non
-
genetically engineered crops. They became a
part of our food supply (soda, cereal, chips, mayo, etc)
Currently, about 70% of processed foods in U.S. contain
genetically engineered ingredients.
4 countries grow most of the GE food:
U.S. (60%)
Argentina (soybeans)
Brazil (soybeans)
Canada (canola)
Corn, Soy, Canola and Cotton
Soy, corn and canola have a herbicide tolerant
(HT) gene in seed so field can be sprayed with
herbicide (Round
-
Up) and not kill the crop.
“Round
-
Up Ready” seeds
Corn & cotton (cottonseed oil) have a Bt gene
incorporated into the plant to resist caterpillars.
Bt is a natural bacteria in the soil that is a toxin for
moth and butterfly larva.
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Government Regulators
FDA:
Monitors GE foods when they are sold as food
Makes decisions on food labeling
USDA:
Oversees GE crops when they are in the field
EPA:
Determines the environmental aspects of GE crops.
Interest is in the effects that the crop has on the
environment. They monitor Bt corn
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Substantial Equivalence
Indicates that two substances or foods have
identical molecular profiles
, so they are
chemically similar to each other. This is possible
because the introduction of a single gene does
not alter the overall organism but allows it to
produce a small amount of a specific protein (a
new protein).
Substantial Equivalence is the reason the FDA
does not label genetically engineered foods.
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To limit GE foods:
Minimize processed foods
Buy organic
Look for “not genetically engineered” for:
Soy: oil, flour, lecithin, protein, isolate, isoflavone
Corn: oil flour, meal, starch, gluten, and HFCS,
modified corn starch, fructose, dextrose, glucose
Canola (rapeseed) & Cotton seed oil
Shop Whole Foods
Choose Trader Joe’s brand products
Shop at farmer’s markets
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