2. Genetically modified foods (GM foods,
or biotech foods) are foods derived
from genetically modified organisms
(GMOs), specifically,genetically
modified crops.
3. GMOs have had
specific changes
introduced into
their DNA
by genetic
engineering techniq
ues.
4. These techniques are much
more precise than mutagenesis
(mutation breeding) where an
organism is exposed to
radiation or chemicals to
create a non-specific but
stable change. Other
techniques by which humans
modify food organisms
include selective
breeding andsomaclonal
variation.
5. Commercial sale of genetically
modified foods began in 1994, when
Calgene first marketed its Flavr
Savr delayed ripening tomato.
7. These may have been engineered for faster
growth, resistance to pathogens, production of
extra nutrients, or any other beneficial purpose.
8. GM livestock have
also been
experimentally
developed, although
as of July 2010 none
are currently on the
market.
9. While there is broad scientific consensus that food on the market
derived from GM crops pose no greater risk to human health than
conventional food, critics have objected to GM foods on several
grounds, including safety issues, ecological concerns,
and economic concerns raised by the fact GM plants (and
potentially animals) that are food sources are subject to intellectual
property law.
10. History
Scientists first discovered
that DNA can transfer
between organisms in
1946 The first genetically modified plant
was produced in 1983, using an
antibiotic-resistant tobacco plant. In
1994, the transgenic Flavr
Savr tomato was approved by the
FDA for marketing in the US - the
modification allowed the tomato to
delay ripening after picking.
11. In the US in 1995, the following transgenic crops received marketing
approval: canola with modified oil composition (Calgene), Bacillus
thuringiensis (Bt) corn/maize (Ciba-Geigy), cotton resistant to the
herbicide bromoxynil (Calgene), Bt cotton (Monsanto), Bt potatoes
(Monsanto), soybeans resistant to the herbicide glyphosate (Monsanto),
virus-resistant squash (Asgrow), and additional delayed ripening tomatoes
(DNAP, Zeneca/Peto, and Monsanto )
12. In 2000, with the creation
of golden rice, scientists
genetically modified food to
increase its nutrient value for the
first time. As of 2011, the
U.S. leads a list of multiple
countries in the production of
GM crops, and 25 GM crops
had received regulatory approval
to be grown commercially.
13. Foods made from GM crops
Currently, there are several GM
crops that are food sources. In
some cases, the product is
directly consumed as food, but In
most cases, crops that have been
genetically modified are sold as
commodities, which are further
processed into food ingredients.
14. Flours
Soy flour is made by grinding soybeans into a fine powder.
It comes in three forms: natural or full-fat (contains
natural oils); defatted (oils removed) with 50% protein
content and with either high water solubility or low water
solubility; and lecithinated (lecithin added). As soy flour
is gluten-free, yeast-raised breads made with soy flour are
dense in texture. Soy grits are similar to soy flour except the
soybeans have been toasted and cracked into coarse
pieces. Kinako is a soy flour used in Japanese cuisine