What is Genetically Modified Food?

The term genetic modification can be defined as a procedure that alters the DNA inside an organism by the transfer of genes between the same, or different types of organisms. These organisms do not have to be apart of the same biological kingdom.

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Genetically modified food in particular occurs when an organism, which is to be consumed, consists of altered DNA. An example of this is transfer of genes from a fish that lives in a very cold climate to a strawberry. This strawberry is then resistant to frost, thus the consumer is presented with fruit of a higher standard. Genetic modifications like this may also occur between two animals or two plants depending on the desired outcome for the product.

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There are different stages of genetic modification within food products, thus only a small section of the product may in fact contain genetically modified genes. These stages are as follows:

• Present in whole foods (e.g. corn, tomatoes)
• Present as ingredients in processed food (e.g. Soybean)
• Present in original food, yet absent after processing (e.g. cottonseed oil does not contain genetically modified material present in its original form, cotton plant)
• Present in early stage of food chain but not in final product (e.g. Beef from cows that have been fed genetically modified corn)

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Ultimately, genetically modified food is any product for consumption that contains altered characteristics in order to create resistances to changes in the products environment (weather, habitat etc.) and provide higher quality and more economical food to the public.

Eat Safe!

Dr Georga Leisemann (Feeding Your Family)