Chemically Modified Food

“Sixty to seventy percent of all processed foods available on store shelves contain genetically modified ingredients”, according to George Erdosh and Marcia Amidon Lusted in “To GMO or not to GMO? Genetically engineered food has strong advocates and harsh critics.” Genetically modified organisms can be found in most conventional foods processed in the United States, and genetic modification of crops is extremely common on classic Minnesota farms. Crops such as corn and soybeans or even papaya and zucchini are viable for genetic modification. In fact, the definition of (GMO) as reported by Alex K. Rich and Tom Warhol, authors of “Genetically Modified Foods: An Overview,” is, “food in which, at some point during the production process molecules and proteins are chemically altered to give the food more nutrients, a better appearance, and a longer shelf life.” As a matter of fact, a majority of all the foods found at the grocery store are genetically altered. However, many people do not know what genetic modification really is, or that the idea has been around for many years. GMOs are used to control pests and weeds. Therefore, through changing the genetic makeup of the plant, modifications allow for advancements of new technologies that account for the applicability of specific chemicals, as opposed to dated Non-GMO farming techniques.

My earliest memory of food is lentils and rice cooked in a pressure cooker. Lentils were cooked at least three days a week. Other days we had different vegetable curries, curd and more rice. This was what I took to school as my lunch every day. As I grew older and started caring more about my social life and people around me, I started noticing what my classmates brought for lunch from their homes. I started understanding how food reflected different cultures and communities. One day, in our

What are genetically modified foods? They are plants and animals whose DNA has been altered or change to suit the needs of humans. There are three types of genetically modified food (GM) first generation, second generation, and third generation crops. Each type is focused in different types of yields and crops so they can have a system that allows to keep production and value up.

Genetically modified foods have contributed to better foods in terms of food quality and human health.

I have recently been taking a course in college called Nutrition 251, and it focuses on the principles of nutrition. In this class, I had to read a book from Michael Pollan called In the Defense of Food. As I read, I could not help but remember all the things I have eaten. Pollan explains how food changed over the years in the US and goes into great detail in how the industrialization of our food has impacted our ways of eating, poisoning us with refined and processed foods. Reading Pollan’s work made me realize that the food we eat is not actually food. Back then, food was grown and not scientifically engineered to provide humans with the nutrition we need. This book and course gave me a lot of reasons why we, as a family, should be more

Imagine going to the grocery store and seeing a seedless watermelon, but it is not the typical oval, it is square. Down the produce aisle, there are sweet, juicy strawberries; however, there is a warning label that says, “Do not consume if you have a nut allergy.” The world today is moving forward in the way that society produces our wholefoods. Genetic engineering, bioengineering, or biotechnology is the process of inserting the genetics of different plants and organisms into other plants or organisms to create new, more efficient DNA. However, is it truly beneficial to modify the world’s natural foods? The use of genetic engineering can disrupt the ecosystems that have taken billions of years to develop. Many years of research and work have gone into the subject of genetically modified foods; however, this new food trend could create or enhance food related illnesses and health problems, interfere with nature’s environs, and could even cause specific ethical problems for individuals that practice different faith. People should be aware of genetic engineering, how it works, and how it affects their lives.

Food additives can be found in lots of food that most people consume. Although food additives can make our food look delicious and even taste better, they contain many dangerous chemicals that may affect our health. Food additives can cause health problems in a person’s lifestyle. Many people do not realize the harm it can cause to their bodies. There are many problems, but also solutions to this situation. The solutions to this situation are: stay away from all kinds of additives, do not eat food that are preservatives, read the labels carefully, and find the FDA signs.

I grew up imagining all the fun treats I would whip up for my own kiddos when they reached school age. I can make a mean batch of cookies. But all the dreams I had came spiraling down when my oldest started kindergarten and I read the food policy in the

Enserink, Martin. "Tough Lessons from Golden Rice." Science. AAAS, 25 Apr. 2008. Web. 22 Sept. 2015. .

The human population is growing rapidly. With the growth in the human population, the demand for food is also growing at an unprecedented rate. Arguably, farms are unable to naturally provide the world’s population the food needed by natural means. This may seem like a big issue, but humans came up with an ingenious solution: genetically modified organisms, commonly known as GMO’s. Genetically modified food has been able to offset the worlds growing demand for food, and all our food problems seem to be solved. Or have they? I will use information from: Wendell Berry’s, The Pleasures of Eating, Jon Entine and JoAnna Wendel’s, 2000+ reasons Why GMO’s Are Safe to Eat, Robin Mather’s, The Threats from Genetically Modified Foods, along with references from Food Inc., to explain how genetically modified food is being used in a way that negatively affects the livestock, our health, the ecosystem, and the potential threats genetically modified crops have on our future.

According to the Economic Research Service/ USDA, United States highly produce on corn (90% acres), soy (93% acres) and cotton (90%acres) in year 2013. (Jorge Fernandez-Cornejo, 2014) Since United States adopted genetically modified technologies in agricultural field, a majority of food products of United States contains of genetically modified ingredients. But the saddest part is most of the American citizens does not realized that they are consumed almost 85% of genetically modified food in their daily meal. (Stryker, 2013) This shows almost every grocery shops in United States must have processed foods that come from genetically modified food. Processed foods such as cookies, breakfast cereal, and corn syrup are containing genetically engineered ingredients from corn

Also, the war brought many women into the work force and out of the house, therefore having the need for short cuts in their meal preparations. In the, late 1960 into the 1970, hippie era countercuisine, genetically modified or hybrid foods, were developed leading to a downfall in the quality of foods. The most recent change to the food industry mentioned by Contois is the 1980 turning point where awareness of the health properties of food were noticed again. The first Dietary Guidelines for Americans, “contributed to growing public awareness of the connections,” to diseases and health issues brought about from eating highly processed

In this practice, those results and learning experience would be valuable in running my own business and working in the foodservice as a future dietitian, particularly in relation to sensory evaluation of texture modified food and skills for texture modification.

Genetically modified organisms have been a contentious topic for the last several years. Decried as being chemically dangerous to the human body, potentially ruinous of worldwide agriculture, and harmful to the environment, GMOs have a rather contemptible reputation. Despite these denunciations, it is undeniable that both willful ignorance and outright misinformation have played a part in the public’s conception of genetically modified food. GMOs have undoubtedly been the victim of character assassination and it is of utmost importance that they are given a factually sound assessment rather than one based around fear mongering. The truth is that genetically engineered organisms are as harmless for the body and environment as any average, traditionally produced food product.

“70 percent of our corn farmland and 93 percent of soy farmland are planted with crops genetically engineered to resist pests and herbicides and increase crop yields. 60% of all the processed foods in the United States are genetically modified; a shocking statistic has the concern of many Americans. However, most people are uninformed about the beneficial impact that genetically modified food has on their diet. GM is the use of molecular biology technology to modify the inherited structure of organisms. Genetically engineered crops increase nutrients, drought tolerance, provide more food for growing populations, and resists diseases and pesticides. Genetically engineered foods are crucial to the improvement of economy, agriculture, society, and health choices. The creation of GM foods was one of the most significant breakthroughs in food industry. Genetically modifying foods is a key component that is harmless for the enrichment of our foods.