GMO Facts + History

This is not only a large topic, but it also has lots of emotions and differing perceptions of its overall role in the feeding of people/animals and its positive/negative impacts on this planet. The impact of GMO efforts are rather wide, here are just a few of my observations while just looking at definitions, basic high-level pros and cons, listings of what foods we are discussing, and GMO history. In this post I am mainly trying to lay out factual references we can use later when I go more in depth about GMO foods and their impact on our economies, farms, and food.

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What is GMO

Since the early 1990’s Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) food has been available for American consumers to buy, eat, or as feed for farm animals. So let’s start with definitions and labels.

Definition

The FDA writes: A GMO (genetically modified organism) is a plant, animal, or microorganism that has had its genetic material (DNA) changed using technology that generally involves the specific modification of DNA, including the transfer of specific DNA from one organism to another. Scientists often refer to this process as genetic engineering.

GMO = Bioengineered

While “genetic engineering” is the term typically used by scientists, a new term will start appearing on some labels of food we eat: bioengineered. This change is because of America’s new National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard. The Standard defines bioengineered foods as those that contain detectable genetic material that has been modified through certain lab techniques and cannot be created through conventional breeding or found in nature.

GMO Food Types

Veggies, fruits, animals, fish, and various organisms (like bacteria) have been genetically modified. Today I am mainly discussing plants rather than animals. But let me acknowledge these GMO’d animals do exist. Only the AquaAdvantage salmon has been approved for direct human consumption. But right now GMO research is being done on cattle, pigs, chickens, goats, sheep, dogs, cats, fish, rats, and mice, among others.

History of GMO in USA

From the very start of farming, 10500 to 10199 BCE, humans have used selective and cross-breeding techniques to modify plants to what they wanted or needed (1). Eventually, in 1896, an Austrian monk Gregor Mendel scientifically noted how to breed plants for varying types of peas; and thus identified basic genetic processes.

Up until 1922, the process of plant development used the simple biological processes identified by Mendel, that limited itself to traits exhibited on plants you want, and cross-breeding those within same food types (peas to peas). But then, we moved into a time of scientific expansion where it was not just selection or keeping within boundaries, humans started to mix veggie A and veggie B, or veggie A with animal protein B, or modifying genetics to allow a killing substance to not kill a plant.

Using a lot of sources, here is the best I can come up with as a timeline for GMO uses, focused on food in the USA.

• 1922  The first hybrid corn is produced and sold commercially.
• 1940  Plant breeders learned to use radiation or chemicals to change an organism’s DNA.
• 1953  Scientist identified the structure of DNA.
• 1973  Genetic engineering was invented; inserting DNA from one bacteria into another.
• 1980 US Supreme Court ruled that “GMO life or organisms” can be patented. This was critical to the start of Monsanto’s foray into GMO and world seed domination.
• 1982  FDA approved the first genetically engineered GMO product: human insulin to treat diabetes.
• 1986  Federal polices established to regulate biotechnology involving the FDA, EPA, and USDA.
• 1992  FDA policy: Food of GMO plants must meet the same requirements and safety standards, as foods derived from traditionally bred plants.
• 1994  After Federal approval, consumers had the first GMO tomato.
• 1990s  Wave of approvals given for GMO summer squash, soybeans, cotton, corn, papayas, tomatoes, potatoes, and canola.
• 2003  The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations develop international guidelines and standards to determine the safety of GMO foods.
• 2005  GMO sales now included: alfalfa and sugar beets. Wikipedia notes that at this time 13% of all zucchini sales in the USA were GMO.
• 2013 USDA approved the import of a GMO pink pineapple.
• 2015  FDA approved the first genetic modification in an animal for use as food: GMO AquaAdvantage salmon so it grows faster. GMO Arctic Apples were approved for sale in the USA.
• 2016  Congress dictated GMO = “bioengineered” on labels. Plus, a GMO white button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) was approved for use in the USA.
• 2018 Golden Rice was approved for sale.
• 2021  GMO sales now included: eggplant.
• 2022 Purple cherry tomatoes have receied USDA approval for sales, starting in 2023. (Purple potatoes, purple cauliflower, purple carrots, and purple yams were developed conventionally.)

Major USA GMO Food

In reality, there are apparently only a few major GMO crops commercially grown and harvested in the USA that are used in human food. The catch is that of these few crops, they are up to 95% GMO. As a result, if I want non-GMO soy beans I have to rely on local, small farmers growing what non-GMO seeds are available.

• Alfalfa: grown to resist glyphosate, it is part of meat and dairy food
• Canola: 90% of crops are GMO to resist glyphosate, part of processed foods and oil
• Corn: grown to resist glyphosate, part of meat industry as they are primarily fed to animals
• Cotton: grown to resist glyphosate, part of processed food (oil) and animal and dairy feed
• Papaya: 90% Hawaiian-grown papaya are modified to be virus-resistant against the ringspot virus.
• Potato
• Soy Beans: The most GMO’d food item in the list according to those who count
• Sugar Beet: 95% of crop are GMO’d to be “Roundup ready” (resist glyphosate)
• Zucchini + Yellow Summer Squash: contain protein genes as protection against viruses

The list above has been in place for years. As of 1 January 2022 these have been added:

• Apple
• Eggplant
• Pineapple

Cautions are commented on by many concerned about GMO foods, namely that new products are under research of being released all the time, and that not all GMO changes can be detected by tests. So there may be more out there than we think.

GMO Effects

As you have been reading my posts, you already know that it rarely is about the actual ingredient, but is about that food and all the other foods made from that ingredient that concerns me. KimbertonWholeFoods has a website raising concerns about GMO foods “derivatives”. The derivatives comes in several forms:

• The food itself is genetically modified
• The GMO food is an ingredient to other foods we consume
• The GMO organism (including non-food) is used to create consumable products

So an example of what all this means is that ~95% of USA grown sugar beets are GMO’d to be glyphosate-resistant. But we do not just eat beets, beets become part of the meat food chain as they are fed to animals, and are used to create sugar. This shows how we may not choose to eat GMO Beets, but it still can enter into our food system.

But also, GMO is not used just in fruits or vegetables, but even items used in food processing or processed food can contain GMO products. Asparatame, for example is manufactured from GMO bacteria. 

GreenAmerica writes that these, basically healthy foods contain GMO products:

• Yogurt via GMO dairy cow feed (corn, soy, cotton seed by products) + GMO growth hormone
• Commercial salad dressing via GMO oil (corn, soy, canola)
• Granola bars via GMO corn, soy or sugar (unless labeled organic)
• Veggie burgers via GMO soy (unless labeled)
• Any food containing sweetener GMO aspartame
• Protein Shakes via GMO whey (dairy by product) or soy
• Margarine via the GMO oil used (canola)
• Wholewheat Breads via GMO ingredients (high fructose corn syrup, soybean oil and soy flour)

This is just to show that it is very hard to escape consuming GMO products.

Effect on Organic Food

There are rules to what can be called “organic”, and one of the rules is that the food cannot be GMO. However, if two farms are side-by-side and one is GMO the other organic, it is possible that seeds are exchanged naturally through wind or animals. Remember, pollen blows everywhere! As a result even organic food may have a bit of GMO food in it. It is reported that many of the organic corn fed to organically-raised chickens or pigs have GMO corn in the feed (2).

Viewpoints on GMO

Altruistic

On the altruistic side, the reasons for geneticly modifying plants and animals are to produce higher crop yields, lessen crop loss, create a longer storage life, have a better appearance in the food or better nutrition. But also, it is claimed, it makes producing the food less expensive as you can plant the seeds, spray the insecticide and the food will grow without the manual labor usually required for weeding and plant maintenance.

Some of these “positives”, are in response to a real concern about growing human populations combined with limited agricultural land, loss of soil, and climate change. While other “positives” are in response to fewer farms, small financial margins in farming, and subsequent impacts on rural communities.

Selfish

On the selfish side, the reason for GMO plant and animals is corporate greed. A company can create a GMO product, this product has a patent term of 20 years from the initial filing, they can thus own the seed, and its uses (3). In fact, companies can require you buy their seed each year (and not save any from the harvest) or can create plants with sterile seeds, so the food plant will grow, but farmers cannot harvest any seeds for planting; they have to buy them again. Montesano owns this “terminator gene” (4).

The best example of the “evil company” spearheading this corporate take-over of our food system and farms is Monsanto. They are both the creators of Roundup and the creators of GMO seeds that can be sprayed and not die from the pesticide; and they quickly patented the seed. VanityFair wrote in May 2008 that: since the 1980s, Monsanto has become the world leader in genetic modification of seeds and has won 674 biotechnology patents, more than any other company, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data. They go on to state, that while: Most Americans know Monsanto because of what it sells to put on our lawns— the ubiquitous weed killer Roundup. What they may not know is that the company now profoundly influences—and one day may virtually control—what we put on our tables. 

Controversies

Here is a list of controversies (5) regarding GMO itself, and the way it is being used within our various systems. For underneath all the controversies is the fact that the GMO process can modify life in ways it would not normally change.

• GMO ingredients, and food derived from GMO ingredients, ought to be clearly labeled so consumers can make a choice. This means labels on processed food, animal feed, animal and plant food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, etc.
• How aggressively do Federal Agencies review, inspect, and assure GMO safety to humans, animals, and the environment? Are regulatory agencies rigorous enough to assure safety?
• How objective is the scientific proof of usability without harm? Evidence is only 42% of scientific studies are federally funded (6), do businesses pay for the rest, are there biased studies?
• What are the effects of GMO crops on people, animals, environment, economies, and farmers?
• What is the true biological and genetic effect of pesticide resistance? Same for plant and animal combinations?
• What role does GMO play in fuel industries, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics?
• In reality, what are the effects to the food system by Monsanto and other GMO companies?

Perceptions

While perceptions scientists have on GMO (generally positive) and the public (generally negative) it is changing in the European Union where more and more people are accepting GMO plant ingredients (7). In the USA however, those perceptions continue and GMO distrust continues among the public.

We can also talk about perceptions of GMO and corporate control of basic natural life (GMO seeds or animals or organisms) by looking at some recent Sci-Fi stories. These stories all have a bit of “conspiracy” associated to them, but to me seem within the realm of possibility unless we take a very hard look at the future of corporate control of what we have considered mother nature.

• Corporations who own human and animal genes and thus the person or animal?
• Creation of foods that change people’s basic genetic structure via the food we eat?
• Introduction of viruses via the food or water we consume, and you pay for temporary immunity?
• Corporations accidentally killing natural systems as a byproduct of a GMO organism not properly tested?

In conclusion, the people who have strong feelings against GMO ingredients or research, feel that corporations and governmental agencies cannot be trusted to be altruistic, make decisions for the betterment of our communities, or choose safety over profits. This is, I think a very USA sentiment. As proof I looked at this:

• According to the 2015 Public Affairs Pulse survey, only 10 percent say they have a lot of trust and confidence that businesses will behave ethically.
• Forbes writes: The track record of America’s companies shows blatant disregard for the wellbeing of America’s working families. 
• HarvardBR survey states: American adults who took our surveys for pay consistently indicated that they expect harmful business practices to increase profit. People seem to think that businesses profit by taking value from customers and society, rather than creating value and sharing it with customers.

Conclusion

I have only scratched the surface of all the research, studies, articles and books written on GMO foods. Too many to capture here in one post, but I think I have brought up enough issues to leave you with your own questions. Of course, I have only given information related mainly to the USA.

What is also interesting to me, is that each country has its own response to GMO crops. For instance, Japan just approved, for human consumption, a modified tomato that is high in gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) which is an amino acid believed to aid relaxation and help lower blood pressure (8).

For me and my family, I have chosen to eat organic and my preference is to not eat GMO food. But like you, I do rely on accurate labels to inform this decision when shopping. What do you think about consuming GMO foods? Do you think it is okay to use GMO food for animal feed?

— Patty

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