Genetically engineered food
Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are created through biotechnology, also called genetic engineering (GE). DNA is taken from one species and forced into other unrelated species — mixing plant, animal, bacterial and viral genes in combinations that cannot occur in nature.
GMO corn, soy, canola, and sugar beets are planted widely across the United States and derivative ingredients, such as lecithin and protein isolate, are common in processed foods.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not require safety assessments of any GMO foods before they enter the market. Companies holding GMO patents determine themselves whether their products are safe, or whether they “warrant analytical or toxicological tests.”
If companies acknowledge problems, consultations with the FDA are entirely voluntary and companies may present only summaries of their data.
Polls consistently show more than 90 percent of U.S. consumers believe GE foods should be labeled.