A Method to Help Identify Genetically Modified Foods (GMF)

The stickers that contain the PLU code (Price Lookup Code) tell you if the fruit was conventionally grown, genetically modified, or organically grown. The PLU code for conventional produce has four numbers, GM fruit has five numbers preceded by the number 8, while organically grown produce has five numbers, preceded by the number 9. Organically grown fruit will not be Genetically Modified or contain pesticides.

http://www.purezing.com/living/toxins/living_toxins_id_gmo.html

A Method to Help Identify Genetically Modified Foods (GMF)

The stickers that contain the PLU code (Price Lookup Code) tell you if the fruit was conventionally grown, genetically modified, or organically grown. The PLU code for conventional produce has four numbers, GM fruit has five numbers preceded by the number 8, while organically grown produce has five numbers, preceded by the number 9. Organically grown fruit will not be Genetically Modified or contain pesticides.

http://www.purezing.com/living/toxins/living_toxins_id_gmo.html

Dear Shafagat,

Thank you for sharing valuable & interesting  question.

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) can be defined as organisms (i.e. plants, animals or microorganisms) in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating and/or natural recombination. The technology is often called “modern biotechnology” or “gene technology”, sometimes also “recombinant DNA technology” or “genetic engineering”. It allows selected individual genes to be transferred from one organism into another, also between nonrelated species. Foods produced from or using GM organisms are often referred to as GM foods. Genetically engineered foods have had foreign genes (genes from other plants or animals) inserted into their genetic codes. Genetic modification, also known as “genetic engineering,” is a technologically advanced way to select desirable traits in crops. While selective breeding has existed for thousands of years, modern biotechnology is more efficient and effective because seed developers are able to directly modify the genome of the crop. Plants that are genetically engineered (GE) have been selectively bred and enhanced with genes to withstand common problems that confront farmers. These include strains of wheat that are more resistant to drought, maize that can survive pesticides, and cassava that is biofortified with additional nutrients. Genetic modification can protect crops against threats to strong yields, such as diseases, drought, pests, and herbicides used to control weeds, and therefore improve the efficiency of food production. While farmers have been selectively breeding plants for centuries, genetic engineering allows new traits to be developed much more quickly. Utilizing traditional selective breeding can take multiple growing seasons to develop and test a new variety. Genetic engineering is more precise than conventional hybridization and therefore is less likely to produce unexpected results. For example, mutagenic breeding is not considered genetic engineering yet it exposes plant material to radiation or chemicals to create varieties with new traits. Genetic engineering research has focused on overcoming problems that affect productivity, such as disease, weeds, and pests. When crops can avoid disease, weeds, and pests, crop yield is enhanced.  Genetic modification is only one of the tools that farmers can use to boost productivity, and it does not eliminate the need for other advances such as hybridization, agricultural chemicals, and farm machinery. Rather, genetic modification is a technologically advanced application of biotechnology that works in conjunction with other modern agricultural practices.

How is a safety assessment of GM food conducted?

The safety assessment of GM foods generally focuses on:

 (a) direct health effects (toxicity),

(b) potential to provoke allergic reaction (allergenicity);

(c) specific components thought to have nutritional or toxic properties;

(d) the stability of the inserted gene;

(e) nutritional effects associated with genetic modification; and

(f) any unintended effects which could result from the gene insertion.

What are the main issues of concern for human health?

While theoretical discussions have covered a broad range of aspects, the three main issues debated are the potentials to provoke allergic reaction (allergenicity), gene transfer and outcrossing.

1.     Allergenicity.

2.     Gene transfer.

3.     Outcrossing

 How is a risk assessment for the environment performed?

Environmental risk assessments cover both the GMO concerned and the potential receiving environment. The assessment process includes evaluation of the characteristics of the GMO and its effect and stability in the environment, combined with ecological characteristics of the environment in which the introduction will take place. The assessment also includes unintended effects which could result from the insertion of the new gene.

What are the issues of concern for the environment?

Issues of concern include: the capability of the GMO to escape and potentially introduce the engineered genes into wild populations; the persistence of the gene after the GMO has been harvested; the susceptibility of non-target organisms (e.g. insects which are not pests) to the gene product; the stability of the gene; the reduction in the spectrum of other plants including loss of biodiversity; and increased use of chemicals in agriculture. The environmental safety aspects of GM crops vary considerably according to local conditions.

Are GM foods safe?

Different GM organisms include different genes inserted in different ways. This means that individual GM foods and their safety should be assessed on a case-by-case basis and that it is not possible to make general statements on the safety of all GM foods. GM foods currently available on the international market have passed safety assessments and are not likely to present risks for human health. In addition, no effects on human health have been shown as a result of the consumption of such foods by the general population in the countries where they have been approved. Continuous application of safety assessments based on the Codex Alimentarius principles and, where appropriate, adequate post market monitoring, should form the basis for ensuring the safety of GM foods.

Regards,

Prem Baboo

Research THE RECENT ADVANCEMENTS IN GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOOD

Genetically Modified Food on a Commercial basis

Many poor countries eschew GM crops, fearing they will not able to export them to areas which ban them,

http://www.economist.com/news/science-and-technology/21630961-biggest-study-so-far-finds-gm-crops-have-large-widespread-benefits-field

Dear @YOGESH CHANDRA TRIPATHI ,

Thank you very much for opinion and link.

Regards, Shafagat

Dear @Prem Baboo,

Thanks a lot for your perfect answers and useful link.

Regards, Shafagat

Dear @Krishnan Umachandran ,

Thank you veru much for answer and link.

Regards, Shafagat

Dear @Pierlorenzo Brignoli ,

Thank you very much for answer.

Regards, Shafagat

I  personally avoid GMF, if I can spot it.  I don't have any scientific reason for it, but I like to error on the side of causion.  My decision is based on the  "precautionary principle".  To me it means don't do it unless you absolutely have to. 

In a fictitious scenario If I must take GMF otherwise I won't see tomorrow's daylight, then based on the above principle I will take and live another day to deal with its possible consequences. 

Dear @Sirous Yasseri ,

Thank you very much for opinion.

Regards, Shafagat

Proponents of genetically modified crops say the technology is the only way to feed a warming, increasingly populous world. Critics say we tamper with nature at our peril.

Foods derived from genetically modified organisms are called ‘GM foods’. All of the GM foods approved so far are from GM plants, for example corn plants with a gene that makes them resistant to insect attack, or soybeans with a modified fatty acid content that makes the oil better suited for frying. Plants that use less water to grow have also been developed so they are more suitable for changing climatic conditions.

http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/consumer/gmfood/gmoverview/Pages/default.aspx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAP6ZtfP9ZQ

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-truth-about-genetically-modified-food/

Dear Shafagat,

Thank you so much in advance for invitation, but I am just mechanical engineer and this topic is out of my domain.

Regards

Emad

An addendum to my answer

In the west labeling of the product to tell the consumer the content and the country of origin is  common.  This should help to distinguish GM products.   In London there are ethnic shops which sell products with less than ideal labeling. Here is the consumer takes it chances or refuse to buy dubious items.  

Generally big and reputable companies value their reputation, thus, it is less likely they mislead the consumer by miss-labeling.  But there is always one who is for a quick $.  

Dear Shafagat,

Thank you so much in advance for invitation, but I am just mechanical engineer and this topic is out of my domain.

Regards

Emad

Since genetically modified (GM / GMO) crops came to market it has been much controversy as to whether foods containing GM ingredients must be labeled crops. Some consider it a question of the right to know and, therefore, all products containing ingredients from GM crops must be labeled as such. Others believe that since there is no difference between genetically modified (GM) ingredients and which are not, the labeling should not be required.

The Food and Drug US (Food and Drug Administration, FDA) oversees the laws of food labeling in the United States. The FDA has determined that if genetically modified crops do not differ from crops that are not, products containing such ingredients do not have to be labeled. The FDA does require that the product be labeled if the ingredient is a potential allergen or somehow changes the nutritional properties of food. To date, no biotech crop that has been approved is an allergen and has no significant nutritional differences compared to their counterparts who are not genetically modified.

Some might ask what kind of damage that produce the product labeling requested. Labeling laws US They are based on health and safety. Require labeling for ingredients that do not pose a health hazard undermine both our labeling laws as consumer confidence. Similarly, ensure that such labeling is necessary to put a heavy burden on regulatory agencies.

A more important question might be: What would be the benefits of labeling products containing GM ingredients? People who take a personal decision not to consume food containing GM ingredients may easily avoid such products. In the United States, these people can buy products that are certified to be organic products in terms of American Organic Products Program [National Organic Program]. They can also buy products that companies have Labelling they do not contain genetically modified ingredients. American law allows voluntary labeling provided that the information is accurate, faithful and avoid confusion for consumers regarding food.

The term GM foods or GMOs (genetically-modified organisms) is most commonly used to refer to crop plants created for human or animal consumption using the latest molecular biology techniques. These plants have been modified in the laboratory to enhance desired traits such as increased resistance to herbicides or improved nutritional content.

The enhancement of desired traits has traditionally been undertaken through breeding, but conventional plant breeding methods can be very time consuming and are often not very accurate. Genetic engineering, on the other hand, can create plants with the exact desired trait very rapidly and with great accuracy. For example, plant geneticists can isolate a gene responsible for drought tolerance and insert that gene into a different plant. The new genetically-modified plant will gain drought tolerance as well. Not only can genes be transferred from one plant to another, but genes from non-plant organisms also can be used.

The best known example of this is the use of B.t. genes in corn and other crops.

B.t., or Bacillus thuringiensis, is a naturally occurring bacterium that produces crystal proteins that are lethal to insect larvae. B.t. crystal protein genes have been transferred into corn, enabling the corn to produce its own pesticides against insects such as the European corn borer.

For more information you may consult the following link 

http://biomed.brown.edu/arise/resources/docs/GM%20foods%20review.pdf

Dear @ Mahfuz Judeh,

Thank you very much for interesting opinion and link.

Regards, Shafagat

Dear @Napoleon Ono Imaah ,

Thank yoy very much for answer.

Regards, Shafagat

Dear @Juan Carlos Otaso ,

Thank you very much for interesting opinion.

Regards, Shafagat

Dear @Rodrigo Drumond Vieira,

Thank you very much for answer.

Regards, Shafagat

Dear @Subhash C. Kundu,

Thanks a lot for your perfect answers and useful link.

Regards, Shafagat

Dear@Barbara Sawicka,

Thank you very muc for interesting answer.

Regards, Shafagat

How do You Know if Your Food is Genetically Modified?

One of the main differences between conventional and genetically modified crops is that the former involves crosses either within species or between very closely related species. GM crops can have genes either from closely related species or from distant species, even bacteria and viruses.GM soybeans and corn make up the largest portion of genetically engineered crops. Apart from GMO labelling, looking at the ingredients listed on the product label, one can fairly identify whether it has come from GM corn or soy.  See the thread : )

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2004/01/24/gm-foods.aspx

The intensity of public debate and controversy between NGOs, scientists and public authorities, has played a major shaping role in many countries in the public's immediate negative reaction to GM crops and food.

http://www.oecd.org/futures/long-termtechnologicalsocietalchallenges/40926844.pdf

Dear @Abhishek Raj,

Thank you very much for opinion.

Regards, Shafagat

Genetically modified organism (GMO) - an organism whose genotype has been artificially modified by genetic engineering techniques. This definition can be applied to plants, animals and microorganisms. Genetic changes usually are made in research or industrial purposes. Genetic modification is different targeted changes in the genotype of an organism as opposed to a random characteristic natural and artificial mutation.

The main type of genetic modification is currently the use of transgenes to create transgenic organisms.

In agriculture and the food industry is only meant for GMO organisms modified by introducing into their genome of one or more transgenes. Specialists of the scientific data obtained by the absence of high-risk products from genetically modified organisms as such as compared to conventional products.

According to the UN for Economic Cooperation and Development, in the world (more than one country) were registered following transgenic crops:

 soybean lines

 potato lines

 lines of maize

Three sugar beet lines

 lines of rice

Tomato lines 8

 rape line

 wheat lines

 melon line

 line chicory

 line of papaya

 line zucchini

 line of flax

9 cotton lines

Among them are grown in large quantities: soybeans, corn, canola and cotton.

see the following paper

Thank you so much, dear @Mohammad Ahmadzadeh.

Regards, Shafagat