Genetically Modified Foods
By Kayla Slater
Nutrition Education
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 from
http://ehis.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.oneonta.edu:2048/ehost/detail?sid=6c66adc7-67da-482c-aa16de0edaf1a21e%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-3d694f0d-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-336842dba790749b9a870c31%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
References continued
WebMD (2013). Are Biotech Foods Safe to Eat? Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/foodrecipes/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/
Questions?