GMO is a genetically modified organism. This article will focus on genetically modified transgenic plants, which are then used to produce food products containing GMOs.
Transgenic plants are hybrids with an altered set of genes. Changes are made in order to give the plant some useful properties: resistance to pests, frost resistance, yield, calorie content.
Here are some examples. The scorpion gene is "added" to the potato gene series. Result: we got a potato that no insects eat. Or here: the polar flounder gene was introduced into tomatoes and strawberries, now these crops are not afraid of frost. Why do we need it? The answer lies on the surface - scientists decided to save earthlings from hunger. In principle, this is correct, because such tomatoes can be grown even in the far north, and potato yields will not suffer and decrease through the efforts of the ubiquitous Colorado potato beetles.
And you can also make an apple tree that will bear fruit of the same size, and they, in addition, will smell until they finally rot. Or all the same tomatoes, beautiful, regular shape, long-term storage. Conveniently! Or you can add a gene to rice that produces vitamin A, which was not previously found in cereals. Why do we need pharmacy vitamins, here they are - natural.
In general, it came to the point that with a slight movement of the hand, scientists increase the yield of many crops, their resistance to pests, and improve other "useful" qualities of plants. But, as you know, with good intentions … And if earlier breeders achieved such results for decades, now it takes a year or two.
The most common GM crops are soybeans, corn, wheat, beets, tobacco, cotton, rapeseed (oilseed), potatoes, strawberries, vegetables.
GMOs - harm or benefit?
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The whole story with the GMF was started in order to save humanity from hunger, but in reality it turned out somewhat differently.
1. The use of foods with GMOs can lead to allergic reactions, moreover, not at all harmless. For example, in the USA, where GM foods are freely consumed in food, about 70% of the population suffer from allergies. In Sweden, where such products are banned, only 7%. This is hardly a coincidence.
2. A consequence of eating foods with transgenes is a violation of the structure of the gastric mucosa, the emergence of antibiotic-resistant intestinal microflora.
3. Another consequence may be a decrease in the immunity of the whole organism (70% of human immunity - in the intestines), as well as metabolic disorders.
4. Foods with GMOs can provoke cancer. Transgenes tend to integrate into the genetic apparatus of intestinal microorganisms, and this is already a mutation. As you know, it is cell mutations that lead to the development of cancer cells.
The severity of these risks indirectly confirms one circumstance: in the USA, which is the main lobbyist for transgenic food in the world, more and more people refuse to eat GM foods.
By the way, in Russia it is not allowed to grow a single transgenic plant commercially.
How do you know which foods contain GMOs?
Rospotrebnadzor has compiled a list of more than 100 names of food products and raw materials obtained with the use of genetically modified organisms. This is what we most often have to deal with.
The list of products where GMOs can be:
1. Soy and its forms (beans, sprouts, concentrate, flour, milk, etc.).
2. Corn and its forms (flour, cereals, popcorn, butter, chips, starch, syrups, etc.).
3. Potatoes and their forms (semi-finished products, dry mashed potatoes, chips, crackers, flour, etc.).
4. Tomatoes and their forms (pasta, mashed potatoes, sauces, ketchups, etc.).
5. Zucchini and products made with them.
6. Sugar beets, table beets, sugar made from sugar beets.
7. Wheat and products made with it, including bread and bakery products.
8. Sunflower oil.
9. Rice and products containing it (flour, granules, flakes, chips).
10. Carrots and products containing them.
11. Onions, shallots, leeks and other bulbous vegetables.
It is also useful to remember the names of some companies that, according to the state register, actively use GMOs in their products:
Kelloggs (Kellogs) - makes breakfast cereals, including corn flakes
Nestle (Nestlé) - produces chocolate, coffee, coffee drinks, baby food
Heinz Foods (Hayenz Foods) - produces ketchup, sauces
Hersheys (Hershis) - produces chocolate, soft drinks
Coca-Cola (Coca-Cola) - Coca-Cola, Sprite, Fanta, Kinley tonic
McDonalds (McDonald's) - a chain of "restaurants" fast food
Danon (Danone) - produces yoghurts, kefir, cottage cheese, baby food
Similac (Similak) - produces baby food
Cadbury (Cadbury) - produces chocolate, cocoa
Mars - produces chocolate Mars, Snickers, Twix
PepsiCo (Pepsi-Cola) - Pepsi, Mirinda, Seven-Up.
Unfortunately, labeling has not become a practice for our manufacturers. When buying products in a store, you can only indirectly determine the probability of GMO content in the product.
If the label says that the product is made in the USA and contains soy, corn, rapeseed or potatoes, there is a very good chance that it contains GM components.
Most of the soy-based products not produced in the United States but outside Russia can also be transgenic. If the label says “vegetable protein” proudly, it is most likely soy and very likely transgenic.
GMOs can often be hidden behind E indices. However, this does not mean that all E supplements contain GMOs or are transgenic. You just need to know which E can, in principle, contain GMOs or their derivatives.
This is, first of all, soy lecithin or E-322 lecithin: it binds water and fats together and is used as a fat element in milk formula, cookies, chocolate, riboflavin (B2) otherwise known as E-101 and E-101A, can be produced from GM microorganisms. It is added to cereals, soft drinks, baby food, and weight loss products. Caramel (E-150) and xanthan (E-415) can also be made from GM grains.
Other additives that may contain GM components: E-153, E-160d, E-161c, E-308-9, E-471, E-472a, E-473, E-475, E-476b, E -477, E-479a, E-570, E-572, E-573, E-620, E-621, E-622, E-633, E-624, E-625, E-951.
Sometimes on the labels the names of additives are indicated only in words, they also need to be able to navigate. Let's consider the most common components.
Soybean Oil: Used in sauces, pastes, cakes and deep fried foods in the form of fat to add extra flavor and quality.
Vegetable oil or vegetable fats: Most commonly found in biscuits, tight fried foods such as chips.
Maltodextrin: A type of starch that acts as a "main agent" used in baby food, powdered soups, and powdered desserts.
Glucose or Glucose Syrup: Sugar that can be produced from cornstarch is used as a sweetener. Found in drinks, desserts and instant foods.
Dextrose: Like glucose, it can be made from cornstarch. Used in cakes, chips and biscuits to achieve brown color. Also used as a sweetener in high energy sports drinks.
Aspartame, aspasvit, aspamix: The sweetener that can be produced by the GM bacteria is restricted in a number of countries and has been reported to have a lot of complaints from consumers in the United States, mainly related to loss of consciousness. Aspartame is found in soda, diet soda, gum, ketchup, and more.
Practical advice to consumers
Most of all GMOs are found in sausages (up to 85%), and finding sausages or sausages without transgenes is almost a miracle. Cooked sausages and sausages are especially densely saturated with genetically modified soy. By the way, various semi-finished products are teeming with transgenes - dumplings, pasties, pancakes. Popular dumplings "Levada" and "Three Bears", and most of the manufacturers of sausages are caught using GMOs.
In second place in terms of GMO content is baby food. 70% of all baby food in Ukraine contains GM components. Moreover, it is almost impossible to find out that a jar of delicious puree contains a transgene, because they don't write about it on the label. Among the manufacturers who do not hesitate to use GM components Nestlé and Danone, Similac. Think about whether the famous "Rastishka" is so useful for your kid. But it is children under 4 years of age who are least protected from the action of transgenes.
As bad as it sounds, try to avoid using baby food. Breastfeed your baby, indulge in purees made from fresh fruits and vegetables. By the way, any compote is much more useful than "canned" juices. But if you still have to buy cereals and mixtures, avoid the products of the above brands.
The third position belongs to confectionery and bakery products. GM soy is generously added to cookies and chocolate, flour, candy and ice cream, soda. It is impossible to identify such additives for the average person. True, bread, which does not stale for a long time, contains one hundred percent transgenes. Among the companies caught by Greenpeace in the use of GMOs are the famous Mars and Snickers, Cadbury, Coca-Cola, Pepsi. Among domestic companies, the confectionery company "Konti" has passed voluntary testing, and only on its products is the "Does not contain GMO" icon green.
80% of American exports contain GMOs, so avoid using American products. Buy on the principle - everything that is advertised is not allowed. Nestlé quick breakfasts, nutritious Snickers, Danone yoghurts, etc. - all these manufacturers are on the Greenpeace "black list".
Well, the three "leaders" have been determined. But that is not all. 30% of the tea and coffee market contains GMOs. Transgenic soybeans are successfully used in the production of fast food (McDonald's), condensed milk, ketchup and sauces (Heinz Foods). Canned corn is also of concern (choose Hungarian - GMOs are prohibited there). And vegetables of course.
How to identify GM vegetables?
It is on vegetables and fruits that I want to dwell in more detail. You buy them on the market from the "grandmothers". Fine. But this does not guarantee the absence of transgenes. After all, it is not known what seeds the grandmothers bought.
1. They practically do not deteriorate and do not interest insects. Therefore, buy "bitten" potatoes, which have a variety of sizes. After all, a perfect potato of the same size is the trick of geneticists.
2. All GM vegetables are usually stored for a long time (due to the "pasted" genes) and look just perfect. So avoid glossy, large tomatoes, chic strawberries, apples "as in the picture". Nature creates vegetables that are not quite "beautiful" and not perfect in shape. It is genetic engineers who "produce" vegetables that satisfy any customer's needs.
3. GM products, when cut, do not lose their shape and do not let juice. Here's another indicator for you. But buy buckwheat boldly, it has not yet been modified.
Author: Butakova Olga Alekseevna