What is GMO Food?

What is GMO Food?

Genetically modified organisms or GMOs are commonly found in our foods today. GMOs are organisms that have had their genetic material artificially manipulated to get the desired feature. For example, scientists (not farmers) can genetically modify corn to make them appear brighter, grow larger and even last longer on the shelf than they otherwise would. On the surface, this sounds like a good thing (and there certainly are some benefits), but there are also a lot of problems associated with GMOs.

Benefits of GMOs

Let’s just start by pointing out the benefits of using GMOs. While some people believe that they are completely evil and should be eliminated from the face of the earth, the fact is that foods are genetically modified for good reasons (even if the negatives do outweigh the positives). For example, GMOs could be helpful in certain parts of the world where food is in short supply. The greater yields from GMO crops could be used to feed the hungry or address other similar issues. Also, food that is grown for biofuels (such as ethanol) may benefit from the genetic modifications since it could allow them to produce more energy. It is clear that there are some advantages to GMOs, they do come at quite a significant cost when it comes to consuming these foods.

Which Foods are Genetically Modified

When shopping, you can sometimes find labels that confirm food is non-GMO, which is great. Most foods, don’t say it one way or another, which can make it very confusing. At this point, few regulations are surrounding when a food manufacturer must list their products as including GMOs, which means the consumer is responsible for doing the research before or during their shopping. Some foods are known to be ‘high-risk,’ which means that most of what you can buy in the traditional store are going to be genetically modified. For example, the following high-risk foods are almost always GMOs when purchased:

• Corn – As of 2011 in the United States, about 88% of the corn crop was GMO
• Cotton – About 90% of the US crop was GMO as of 2011
• Soy – In 2011 about 94% of all US-grown soy was a GMO
• Sugar Beets – 95% of the US crop in 2010 was genetically modified
• Canola – 90% of US grown crop is GMO

Are GMOs Really Better

Many people argue that GMOs are a safe option that is actually superior to natural foods because they can be grown and produced faster and less expensively. While that may be true in some cases, there are many examples of GMOs that were created and then later found to be unviable for one reason or another. Whether due to health concerns or simply undesirable features that prevent people from buying them, many GMOs have come and gone over the years. The following are some significant examples of GMOs that were created and then discontinued. Many people thought some of these items were going to revolutionize the products, only to be proven very wrong:

• Flavr Savr Tomatoes – Way back in 1994 the first commercially available GMO was the Flavr Savr tomato. By 1997, this product was no longer being made because the flavor was not liked by consumers.
• EnviroPig – Genetically engineered pigs that were developed by the University of Guelph. After extensive research, the genetically modified pig project was discontinued in 2012. In the end, all of the pigs were euthanized.
• NewLeaf Potatoes – Monsanto released this genetically modified potato in 1996. The NewLeaf product never caught on, and fast-food chains refused to use them for fries and chips. By 2001, this product was discontinued.

While there are many examples of failed GMO products, there are also many that have succeeded in becoming popular in the markets as can be seen in the list above. Despite the fact that they may taste good enough to buy, many people agree that the risk outweighs their benefits. Since GMOs are still relatively new to the marketplace, there has not yet been sufficient research and long term studies done to determine just how safe (or dangerous) these products might be. This is why many experts agree that it is best to avoid GMOs and focus on natural foods that have not been manipulated in a lab to be sure you’re getting the healthy food your body needs.