It’s highly probable that you’re consuming foods and food products derived from genetically modified organism (GMO) crops. Many GMO crops are fundamental in producing widely consumed ingredients in the American diet. These include staples like cornstarch, corn syrup, corn oil, soybean oil, canola oil, and granulated sugar. Furthermore, certain fresh fruits and vegetables are now available in GMO varieties, such as potatoes, summer squash, apples, papayas, and even pink pineapples. While GMOs are prevalent in a significant portion of our food supply, it’s important to note that the majority of GMO crops cultivated in the United States are primarily used for animal feed.
To enhance transparency for consumers regarding GMO ingredients in their food, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides a comprehensive list of bioengineered foods available globally. This list is a valuable resource for those seeking to understand the prevalence of GMOs in the food market. Moreover, the implementation of the new National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard means you will increasingly encounter the “bioengineered” label on various food products, further aiding informed consumer choices.
Where Can You Find GMOs?
Understanding where GMOs are present in the food system is crucial for consumers wanting to make informed decisions. GMOs are not always easily identifiable, as they are often processed into common ingredients. Looking beyond just fresh produce, it’s essential to consider processed foods where GMO-derived ingredients are frequently used.
GMO Crops in the U.S.
While the variety of GMO crops grown in the United States might seem limited, a few key GMO types constitute a significant portion of the overall crop production. Notably, soybeans, corn, sugar beets, canola, and cotton are predominantly genetically modified in the US. These crops form the backbone of many food products and animal feeds.
What GMO crops are in the United States?
The United States cultivates a select number of GMO crops, yet these few varieties represent a large percentage of the total acreage for certain crops. For instance, GMO soybeans, corn, sugar beets, canola, and cotton dominate their respective markets.
In 2020, an impressive 94% of all soybeans planted were GMO soybeans, and GMO cotton accounted for 96% of all cotton planted. Furthermore, 92% of the corn planted in the US was GMO corn, highlighting the widespread adoption of genetic modification in these staple crops.
Looking back to 2013, GMO canola already constituted 95% of the total canola planted, and GMO sugar beets were overwhelmingly dominant, making up 99.9% of all sugar beets harvested. This data underscores the rapid and near-complete transition to GMO varieties in these sectors.
A significant characteristic of GMO plants is their use as source material for ingredients in numerous processed food products. For example, cornstarch, a common thickening agent, is frequently derived from GMO corn, and granulated sugar is often produced from GMO sugar beets. This means that even if you are not directly consuming fresh GMO produce, you are likely ingesting ingredients derived from GMO crops in a wide range of everyday foods.
Corn: As the most extensively cultivated crop in the United States, corn is overwhelmingly dominated by GMO varieties. The primary genetic modifications in corn are for insect pest resistance and herbicide tolerance. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn, a notable example, is engineered to produce proteins toxic to specific insect pests. Crucially, these proteins are harmless to humans, pets, livestock, and beneficial insects like ladybugs. Organic farmers also utilize similar Bt proteins for pest control. GMO Bt corn effectively reduces the need for insecticide spraying while maintaining crop protection from insect damage. While a substantial portion of GMO corn ends up in processed foods and beverages, the majority serves as feed for livestock, such as cattle, and poultry, like chickens.
Soybean: The vast majority of soybeans grown in the United States are genetically modified. GMO soy’s primary applications are in animal feed, particularly for poultry and livestock, and in the production of soybean oil. Additionally, soy derivatives like lecithin, emulsifiers, and proteins from GMO soybeans are prevalent ingredients in processed foods, contributing to texture and stability.
Cotton: GMO cotton was engineered to resist bollworms, a devastating pest, and played a crucial role in revitalizing the cotton industry, particularly in regions like Alabama. Beyond its importance in textiles, GMO cotton provides cottonseed oil, widely used in packaged foods and for frying in restaurants. Furthermore, GMO cottonseed meal and hulls are valuable components in animal feed formulations.
Potato: Certain GMO potatoes have been developed with enhanced resistance to insect pests and diseases. Moreover, some GMO potato varieties exhibit resistance to bruising and browning, common issues during packaging, storage, transportation, and even home preparation. While browning doesn’t affect potato quality, it often leads to unnecessary food waste due to misconceptions about safety and spoilage.
Papaya: In the 1990s, the ringspot virus nearly decimated Hawaii’s papaya crop, threatening the entire industry. The development of a GMO papaya, named the Rainbow papaya, provided a solution by conferring resistance to the ringspot virus. This GMO innovation saved papaya farming in the Hawaiian Islands, demonstrating the critical role of GMOs in crop preservation.
Summer Squash: GMO summer squash varieties offer resistance to certain plant viruses. Squash was among the early GMOs introduced to the market, but its cultivation remains less widespread compared to other GMO crops.
Canola: GMO canola is primarily processed into cooking oil and margarine, both staples in many kitchens. Canola seed meal also serves as a valuable component of animal feed. Canola oil is favored in packaged food production for its ability to enhance food consistency. The majority of GMO canola is herbicide-resistant, simplifying weed control for farmers and improving crop management efficiency.
Alfalfa: GMO alfalfa is predominantly used as feed for cattle, especially dairy cows. Most GMO alfalfa varieties are herbicide-resistant, enabling farmers to effectively manage weeds that can significantly reduce alfalfa yield and diminish the nutritional quality of hay, a crucial feed component.
Apple: Specific GMO apple varieties have been engineered to resist browning after cutting. This trait is aimed at reducing food waste by addressing consumer perceptions that browned apples are spoiled, even though browning is a natural enzymatic reaction and doesn’t compromise safety.
Sugar Beet: Sugar beets are the source of granulated sugar found on grocery shelves. Over half of the granulated sugar available to consumers is derived from GMO sugar beets. Herbicide resistance in GMO sugar beets simplifies weed management for farmers, contributing to efficient sugar production.
Pink Pineapple: The GMO pink pineapple is a unique variety developed for its distinctive pink flesh, achieved by increasing levels of lycopene. Lycopene is a naturally occurring pigment in pineapples, responsible for the red color in tomatoes and the pink hue in watermelons, adding nutritional and visual appeal to this GMO fruit.
What about animals that eat food made from GMO crops?
A significant majority, exceeding 95%, of animals raised for meat and dairy in the United States consume GMO crops as part of their feed. Numerous independent studies have consistently demonstrated that there are no discernible differences in the health and safety impacts between GMO and non-GMO foods on animals. Critically, the DNA from GMO food does not transfer to the animals that consume it. This means that animals eating GMO feed do not become genetically modified themselves. If such DNA transfer were to occur, animals would inherit genetic material from every food source, GMO or non-GMO, which is not biologically plausible. In essence, cows do not become grass, and chickens do not transform into corn simply by consuming these foods.
Similarly, DNA from GMO animal feed does not find its way into the meat, eggs, or milk produced by these animals. Research has firmly established that foods like eggs, dairy products, and meat sourced from animals fed GMOs are nutritionally equivalent, equally safe, and of comparable quality to foods from animals raised on non-GMO feed. Consumers can be assured that the nutritional value and safety of animal products are not compromised by the use of GMO feed.
For deeper insights, explore GMO Crops and Food for Animals.
Who makes sure animal food is safe?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the primary regulatory body responsible for ensuring the safety of both GMO and non-GMO animal food. Within the FDA, the Center for Veterinary Medicine specifically manages this critical oversight. The FDA mandates that all animal food, mirroring human food regulations, must be safe for consumption, produced under sanitary conditions, free from harmful substances, and accurately labeled, safeguarding animal health and welfare.
Are there GMO animals in the food supply?
Yes, there are GMO animals approved for consumption in the food supply. The FDA has granted approval for the sale of AquAdvantage Salmon to consumers. This salmon is genetically modified to achieve a faster growth rate, reaching market size more quickly than non-GMO salmon. Additionally, the FDA has approved genetic alterations in the GalSafe pig for both human food consumption and potential therapeutic applications. The GalSafe pig is engineered to eliminate detectable alpha-gal sugar from its cell surfaces. This is significant because individuals with Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) can experience allergic reactions to alpha-gal sugar found in red meat like beef, pork, and lamb. The FDA has rigorously assessed and concluded that food derived from AquAdvantage Salmon and GalSafe pigs is as safe and nutritious as food from their non-GMO counterparts, expanding the options available in the food market while addressing specific health concerns.
Are GMOs used to make anything besides food?
While “GMO” is often associated primarily with food, the techniques employed to create GMOs have broader applications, including medicine. Genetic engineering, the process behind GMO development, was initially utilized to produce human insulin, a vital medicine for diabetes management. Medicines developed through genetic engineering undergo a rigorous FDA approval process, ensuring safety and efficacy before they are approved for human use. Beyond medicine and food, GMOs also play a role in the textile industry. Certain GMO cotton plants are cultivated to produce cotton fiber used in fabric manufacturing for clothing and various other materials, highlighting the diverse applications of GMO technology.
