FAQ
WHAT’S A GMO?
BUT HAVEN’T GROWERS BEEN GRAFTING TREES, BREEDING ANIMALS, AND HYBRIDIZING SEEDS FOR YEARS?
Genetic engineering is completely different from traditional breeding and carries unique risks.
In traditional breeding it is possible to mate a pig with another pig to get a new variety, but is not possible to mate a pig with a potato or a mouse. Even when species that may seem to be closely related do succeed in breeding, the offspring are usually infertile. A horse, for example, can mate with a donkey, but the offspring (a mule) is sterile.
With genetic engineering, scientists can breach species barriers set up by nature. For example, they have spliced fish genes into tomatoes. The results are plants (or animals) with traits that would be virtually impossible to obtain with natural processes, such as crossbreeding or grafting.
(Note: some people use a wider definition of genetic modification to include natural techniques. This is often done as an attempt by biotech advocates to blur the distinction and claim that genetic engineering is just an extension of natural breeding–that we have done for centuries.
HOW DOES GENETIC ENGINEERING TRANSFER GENES BETWEEN ORGANISMS?
Because living organisms have natural barriers to protect themselves against the introduction of DNA from a different species, genetic engineers have to find ways to force the DNA from one organism into another. These methods include:
- Using viruses or bacteria to “infect” animal or plant cells with the new DNA.
- Coating DNA onto tiny metal pellets, and firing it with a special gun into the cells.
- Injecting the new DNA into fertilized eggs with a very fine needle.
- Using electric shocks to create holes in the membrane covering sperm, and then forcing the new DNA into the sperm through these holes.
WHAT IS GENE EDITING?
The biotech industry has initiated a global campaign to convince regulators and the public that gene editing is so safe and predictable, no regulation or government oversight is needed. Nonetheless, there is now overwhelming evidence that the technology does consistently create unpredictable side effects that can be dangerous to health and the environment.
IS GENETIC ENGINEERING PRECISE?
The process also typically results in multiple mutations, sometimes hundreds or thousands. Some are created by the genetic engineering technique and some are created by the tissue culture and cloning process that accompanies the procedure.
DOES THE BIOTECH INDUSTRY HOLD ANY PROMISE?
Moreover, molecular marker technologies, also called Marker Assisted Selection (MAS), used with conventional breeding shows much promise for developing improved crop varieties, without the potentially dangerous side effects of direct genetic modification.
DOES THE BIOTECH INDUSTRY HOLD ANY PROMISE?
Moreover, molecular marker technologies, also called Marker Assisted Selection (MAS), used with conventional breeding shows much promise for developing improved crop varieties, without the potentially dangerous side effects of direct genetic modification.
GMOS IN FOODS:
WHAT KINDS OF TRAITS HAVE BEEN ADDED TO FOOD CROPS?
Herbicide tolerance lets the farmer spray weed-killer directly on the crop without killing it. The most common are Roundup Ready crops, which allow Roundup herbicide to be sprayed directly on the crop field. Herbicide tolerant crops include soy, corn, cotton, canola, sugar beets, and alfalfa.
Crops such as Bt cotton, corn and soybeans produce pesticides inside the plant. This kills or deters insects, saving the farmer from having to spray pesticides. The plants themselves are toxic, and not just to insects. Farmers in India, who let their sheep graze on Bt cotton plants after the harvest, saw thousands of sheep die!
WHY DO GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOODS HAVE ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANT GENES IN THEM?
These marker genes are resistant to antibiotics that are commonly used in human and veterinary medicine. There is widespread concern that these genes might result in the transfer of resistance to pathogenic bacteria, which will become untreatable with those antibiotics.
WHY DO GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOODS HAVE ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANT GENES IN THEM?
These marker genes are resistant to antibiotics that are commonly used in human and veterinary medicine. There is widespread concern that these genes might result in the transfer of resistance to pathogenic bacteria, which will become untreatable with those antibiotics.
WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS CREATED THROUGH GENETIC ENGINEERING OF FOOD AND CROPS?
WHAT FOODS ARE GM?
Almost 95% of Canadian grown Canola is genetically engineered for herbicide resistance.U.S. sugar beet production is estimated to be over 95% genetically modified for herbicide resistance.
GMO sweet corn, papaya, zucchini, and yellow summer squash are also for sale in grocery stores, but in far lesser amounts.
Genetically modified alfalfa is grown for use as hay and forage for animals.
Currently, the GMO potato is being marketed under the Simplot Innate brand. It was introduced to grocery stores in 2015. Genetically engineered non-browning ‘Arctic’ apples have been deregulated by the USDA and have been on the market since 2016. Learn more about GMOs in foods here.
Del Monte’s GM Pinkglow Pineapple, genetically modified to be pink.
WHAT ARE OTHER SOURCES OF GMOS?
Products derived from the above, including oils from all four, soy protein, soy lecithin, cornstarch, corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup among others. Also:
- meat, eggs, and dairy products from animals that have eaten GM feed (and the majority of the GM corn and soy is used for feed);
- dairy products from cows injected with rbGH (a GM hormone);
- food additives, enzymes, flavorings, and processing agents, including the sweetener aspartame (NutraSweet) and rennet used to make hard cheeses; and
- honey and bee pollen that may have GM sources of pollen.
- You can view the list of invisible GM ingredients here.
THE HEALTH DANGERS:
WHAT ARE THE POTENTIAL DANGERS OF EATING GM FOODS?
HASN’T RESEARCH SHOWN GM FOODS TO BE SAFE?
Various feeding studies in animals have resulted in potentially precancerous cell growth, damaged immune systems, smaller brains, livers, and testicles, partial atrophy or increased density of the liver, odd shaped cell nuclei and other unexplained anomalies, false pregnancies and higher death rates.
BUT AREN’T THE PLANTS CHEMICALLY THE SAME, WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE GM?
IS IT TRUE THAT ANIMALS SOMETIMES AVOID EATING GMOS?
HAVEN’T PEOPLE BEEN EATING GM FOODS WITHOUT ANY ILL EFFECT?
WHAT INDICATIONS ARE THERE THAT GM FOODS ARE CAUSING PROBLEMS?
WHAT ABOUT GM HORMONES IN MILK?
In Canada, government scientists complained that they were being pressured to approve the GM hormone. They were concerned about human health impacts. They testified that the drugs maker, Monsanto, offered them a bribe of $1-2 million to approve it. They also reported that documents were stolen from a locked file cabinet in a government office. Canada has not approved its use, but does allow dairy products from the US that are produced from treated cows.
Most American dairies do not use it, and mark packages as No Artificial Hormones, No rBGH, or No rBST.
BUT IS THERE ANY DOCUMENTED INSTANCE OF ADVERSE EFFECTS OF GMOS ON PEOPLE?
WHY ARE CHILDREN PARTICULARLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE EFFECTS OF GM FOODS?
Children face the greatest risk from the potential dangers of GM foods for the same reasons that they also face the greatest risk from other hazards like pesticides and radiation, these include:
- Young, fast-developing bodies are influenced most.
- Children are more susceptible to allergies.
- Children are more susceptible to problems with milk.
- Children are more susceptible to nutritional problems.
- Children are in danger from antibiotic resistant diseases.
- They don’t have a well-developed blood brain barrier or microbiome.
HOW DANGEROUS, OR POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS, ARE GM FOODS RELATIVE TO OTHER FOOD DANGERS, E.G., PESTICIDES, IRRADIATION, ADDITIVES, PRESERVATIVES?
In addition, transfer of transgenes to gut bacteria may present long-term chronic exposure, since the foreign protein may continue to be produced inside of us after we no longer consume the GM food.
DANGERS TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND TRADITIONAL AGRICULTURE:
WHAT IS THE EFFECT OF GROWING GM CROPS ON THE ENVIRONMENT?
The following is a section taken from Myths vs. Truths. “On-farm and environmental impacts of GM crops are not limited to the effects of the GM crop itself. They also include the effects of the pesticide that the crop is engineered to contain or to tolerate during cultivation. Research shows that negative impacts are occurring from all these sources.” To learn more click here to be redirected to this section of Myths vs. Truths.
CAN THE GROWING OF GM CROPS EFFECT NEARBY CROPS?
WHY IS THERE AN EFFORT TO CREATE GM-FREE AGRICULTURAL ZONES?
Some farm regions create entire zones that exclude unwanted varieties, where all the farms, and if possible all collection and distribution points, only handle approved grain.
HAVE ANY LOCAL EFFORTS IN THE US BEEN SUCCESSFUL?
There are local efforts throughout the U.S. that are raising public awareness, changing laws, and creating commitments to non-GM ingredients. Most notably, voters in Mendocino and Marin Counties in California passed a ballot initiative to ban GM crops.
Officials in Trinity County and Arcata, California have passed ordinances banning the outdoor cultivation of GM crops as well. But since then, a California law was passed prohibiting this type of local initiative.
To view a complete list of GM-free zones, click here.
IS IT POSSIBLE THAT ORGANICALLY GROWN CROPS CAN BE INFECTED BY GM GENES?
Organic canola farmers in Canada unsuccessfully sued biotech companies, since cross-pollination has made it impossible for them to grow organic, non-GM canola.
IS THE NATURAL FOODS INDUSTRY DOING SOMETHING TO ENSURE THE PURITY OF ITS PRODUCTS?
Companies began to enroll their products in the spring of 2008.
US GOVERNMENT REGULATION:
DIDN’T THE SCIENTISTS AT THE FDA STUDY GM FOODS THEMSELVES?
WHAT KIND OF INFORMATION DID THE COMPANIES PROVIDE?
In the FlavrSavr tests, lab rats refused to eat the tomatoes and had to be force-fed. Several developed stomach lesions, and seven of forty died within two weeks. Still, the tomato was approved, but has since been taken off the market.
BASED ON THE INFORMATION THAT WAS SUPPLIED, DID THE FDA SCIENTIST HAVE CONCERNS?
WHAT DID THE FDA DO ABOUT THESE CONCERNS?
HOW COULD THE GOVERNMENT APPROVE DANGEROUS FOODS?
The FDA official in charge ignored all warnings of the FDA staff scientists. The official,Michael Taylor, a former outside attorney for Monsanto, was a political appointee specifically to a new FDA post on GM policy, and left shortly after to become vice president at Monsanto.
WHAT ARE THE LABELING LAWS ON GMOS IN THE US AND AROUND THE WORLD?
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF IRT?
IRT’s mission is to protect the genetic integrity and nature’s biological evolution by preventing the outdoor release of genetically modified organisms, and to protect human and animal health by preventing the use of GMOs in the food and feed supply.
In addition, we seek to stop the use of toxic agricultural chemicals associated with GMOs, such as Roundup.
IRT is a world leader in educating the public and change-makers about the health risks and environmental dangers of GMOs and associated pesticides. We empower consumers to lead an organic lifestyle and shape the changing marketplace to reject GMOs from the food supply and environment.
How? We investigate and report their risks and impact on health, environment, the economy, and agriculture, as well as the problems associated with current research, regulation, corporate practices, and reporting.
To learn more about how we meet our mission and how we operate, please go HERE .
To learn more about our history, background and impact, please go HERE.