GM Foods Project Communications 230 Jane Lister Reis Small group members:

Group Objectives Our group has a mutual concern with Genetically Modified organisms and their relation to foods. Our group objective was to find as much information as possible about the positive and negative effects of genetically modified organisms, and to communicate this to the public. To culminate our efforts, we chose a PowerPoint presentation, and to hand out pamphlets containing our findings.

Our research What is a genetically modified organism or food? The term “genetically modified organism,” or GMO, refers to a living organism whose genes have been altered by inserting a gene from an unrelated species. In crops, the technology has generally been used to incorporate genes that enhance resistance to insecticides, herbicides or pesticides, enhance drought tolerance, encourage higher yields or promote the ability to plant more in a smaller area. 1

So What? Do GM foods have effects on us that we have been unaware of? We all have been exposed to GM foods in one way or another. More than 60% of the packaged food items in US grocery stores contain genetically altered ingredients. 3 What has been involved in determining whether GM foods are safe, and can we trust the process that is in place? Has this process changed?

Pros of GM Foods GM foods are created to have much higher tolerance to harsh environments, disease, pests, and drought. This has been purported to create higher yields of food compared with traditional farming. 5

Pros of GM Foods GM foods grow faster. Overall production is cheaper. Higher nutrients. 6 Eliminate compounds that cause allergies. Less use of pesticides. Less wasted food. 7

Cons of GM Foods Because genes are so complex, scientists cannot predict all possible outcomes of the genetic change. 2 There is no way of knowing the long term effects of GM foods for the health of those who consume them. 2 “…toxins may generate new substances (metabolites) “either in the GM plant or in the animals fed with it.” Current assessments completely ignore the potential danger from these new components in our diets, such as the “new metabolites*” in GMOs engineered to withstand Roundup. 1 *(Any substance produced by, or taking part in, a metabolic reaction) 8substancemetabolic

In a study regarding the genetically modified food consumption “Doctors at Sherbrooke University Hospital in Quebec found the corn’s Bt-toxin* in the blood of – pregnant women and their babies, as well as in – non-pregnant women.(Specifically, the toxin was identified in 93% of 30 pregnant women, 80% of umbilical blood in their babies, and 67% of 39 non-pregnant women.) 4 *(naturally occurring insecticide that has been genetically introduced to corn and other plants, thousands of times more concentrated than the naturally occurring Bt-toxin) Cons of GM Foods

How we accomplished our goals We have spent most of a month researching information online, sorting out and compiling pertinent information. We created pamphlets and fliers describing the positive and negative effects of GM foods to distribute in public places (parks, grocery stores, street). Our objective as not to eliminate GM foods, but rather to inform the public of their current and potential effects.

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