Where are GE Foods?

So how is the industry using GE in crops and foods? There are basically six applications.

Herbicide resistant crops. These are crops engineered to tolerate a proprietary pesticide so that it can be applied without harming the crop. For example, Monsanto sells its Roundup Ready® crops along with its Roundup pesticide (glyphosate). Herbicide resistant crops account for about 71% of all GE crops.

Pesticide crops. Pesticide crops are engineered to contain a pesticide within their cells. For example, Bt corn contains a toxin normally produced by the Bacillus Thuriengensis bacterium. These crops account for about 22% of all GE crops.

There are also herbicide resistant pesticide crops, accounting for about seven percent of all GE crops.

Virus resistant crops. In minor use are crops that are genetically engineered to resist viruses (for example, GE squash and papaya).

Use restriction crops. Under development are crops that limit their own use. For example, "Terminator" seeds are designed to grow "normally" and then produce seeds that are sterile, forcing farmers to buy new seed every year, instead of being able to save, share and breed them.

Production chemicals. Some GE products are chemicals used in food production. For example, about a third of U.S. dairy cows are injected with recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH) to increase their milk production and the GE enzyme chymogen is used in some cheese production.

Farmed animals. Some production animals are genetically engineered for some "advantageous" trait. For example, under development are Atlantic Salmon that are engineered to use more of their own growth hormone, resulting in fish that grow up to 600% faster early on and up to 200% faster overall.

These are the ways GE ingredients get into your food. Note that while the biotechnology industry promotes GE foods as "improved," none of these uses result in enhanced end-products for the consumer!

GE crops and foods now on the market

Although the first GE crops hit the market only in 1994, GE foods are widespread. Chances are you are buying GE foods. Without mandatory labeling, however, you really can't tell.

About 1/4 of U.S. cropland is planted to GE crops, making the U.S. by far the world's largest producer of them. [1] About 50% of its soybeans, 33% of its corn and about 55% of its cotton are GE varieties. [2] There are also GE canola, potatoes, squash, tomatoes, and other crops.

Foods made with soy, corn, cottonseed or canola--including soy and corn derivatives such as lecithin, soy oil, soy proteins, corn syrup and cornstarch--may very well be GE foods. An estimated 60 to 75% of all non-organic supermarket foods now contain GE ingredients. [3]

Some of the foods that have actually tested positive include: Enfamil ProSobee Soy Infant Formula, Similac Isomil Soy Infant Formula, and Nestle Carnation Alsoy Infant Formula, Boca Burger Chef Soy Burger, Max's Favorite Soy Burger, Morningstar Farms Better 'n Burgers Soy Burger, Green Giant Harvest Burgers Soy Burger (now called Morningstar Farms Harvest Burgers), McDonald's McVeggie Burgers, Ovaltine Malt powdered beverage mix, Bac-Os Bacon Flavor bits, Bravos Tortilla Chips Nacho Nacho!, Old El Paso 12 Taco Shells and Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix. [4]

Many more GE foods are on the way! Approvals have been granted for more than 6,700 new field trials of genetically modified plants. [5] Foods being readied for market include: GE fish and seafood, lettuce, melons, peas, rice, wheat, strawberries, apples and pigs.

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[1] In 1999, the U.S. accounted for 72% of all commercial GE crops; Argentina for 17%; Canada for 10% and China for 1%. Agrow World Crop Protection News, No.340. PJB Publications Ltd. November 12, 1999.

[2] International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications. 1999. Global Status of Commercialized Transgenic Crops: 1999. ISAAA Briefs No.12: Preview. ISAAA: Ithaca, NY.

[3] Organic Consumers Association campaign handout. Organic Consumers Association. 1999.

[4] "Seeds of Change," Consumer Reports. September 1999.

[5] National Research Council, Genetically Modified Pest-protected Plants: Science and Regulation (Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press, 2000), p.35