Genetically Engineered Foods

What are genetically engineered foods?
Genetically engineered(GE) foods are foodstuffs produced from genetically modified organisms (GMO) that have had their DNA altered through genetic engineering.

Are there harmful effects to GE foods?
1. GE foods cause an increase in allergic reactions. By taking a gene from a common food allergen and placing it into another food that has always been considered safe (ie- a gene from a nut placed into a soybean) can cause lethal allergic reactions.
2. GE foods increase the resistance to antibiotics. Many of the genes that are GE into common foods have an antibiotic gene code. These antibiotic resistance genes therefore enter our body and increase our already growing resistance to common antibiotics.
3. GE foods weaken our immune response. There have been studies done on rats who were given a GE diet and the studies found that the animals had underdeveloped organs, lower metabolism and a less robust immune system.
4. GE foods have a lower nutritional value. The USDA has concluded that genetically engineering food can result in "undesirable alteration in the level of nutrients" of foods.


How common are GE foods in the US and in the world?
The US grows 55.3% of all GE crops worldwide. Argentina grows 19%, Brazil and Canada 6.4%, China 3.7% and all other countries 5.2%. It is estimated that nearly 75% of all processed foods in the US are genetically modified.

Why does the US have the highest percentage of GE foods?
Most of the global community are leaps and bounds ahead of the US in the regulation of GE foods. The European Union had a fiver year moratorium on GE products, which they have lifted under the condition that ALL GE foods are labeled. The Cartagena BioSafety Protocol went into effect in 2003 and it was the first international legislation that regulates the trans-border trade of GE foods. Over 140 countries have signed the agreement which allows them to ban the import of GE products. Only the US and Australia are yet to sign this agreement.

If you are interested in knowing sources for any of the above statements, please leave a comment. Each statement has a credible source and I would be more than willing to post sources if there is a concern or interest.