How to distinguish genetically modified potatoes. GMOs: good or bad? Genetically modified foods and organisms

The average layman will surely tell you that GMO foods are harmful and should not be consumed under any pretext. And if you ask him what are products containing GMOs? ... most likely, he will say that this is something fake, obtained through mutations and so on.

Fortunately or unfortunately, this topic is now widely publicized. There are disputes, rallies are held ... but what are we really dealing with? Let's try to understand and discuss this issue together.

The first GMO products appeared in the late 80s.

What does GMO food mean? These are the foods that are obtained from genetically modified organisms.

What is a genetically modified organism? This is an organism that has undergone a change in its genotype (a set of genes that characterize a single individual) in an artificial way.

How to distinguish genetic modification from the usual mutational process? With its purposefulness. Everything here is aimed at artificially (with the help of genetic engineering) making changes in precisely those parts of the genome that are fundamentally important for a single organism, culture.

The site that is modified is called a transgene and is essentially a DNA fragment (As a rule, most often of a different species, but they can also be synthesized artificially. And as a result: a tomato that is not afraid of frost was obtained by introducing a DNA fragment from a North American marine flounder And in order to breed potatoes that no insect will eat, they added the scorpion gene).

Genetic Modified Foods: Pros and Cons

It is clear, after all, that such cultures / products were created in order to improve the properties of plants or animals. Like this? Well, imagine a huge country that, due to weather conditions, suffers from low yields. Genetic engineers "work their magic" and now the culture can already grow, regardless of weather conditions, pests; it has a clearly defined nutritional value, its yield increases. Everyone is happy.

But let's look at the pros and cons:

"Behind"

People are afraid that eating foods containing GMOs can lead to a number of adverse factors, such as poisoning, allergies, the introduction of a transgene into their own DNA, and so on. Whatever it was, but when it enters our digestive system, the proteins of GMO products are broken down.

Products obtained by genetic modification do not differ from those that change under the influence of natural mutations.

With the advent of GM technologies, the need to use agricultural chemicals has decreased.

Before entering the market, the product undergoes thousands of trials and it takes more than one year.

"Against"

The foreign protein that comes with GMO foods can indeed cause an allergic reaction, although such cases have not yet been recorded.

The transgene may contain the so-called "technological garbage" (antibiotic resistance genes).

The flip side of the coin: a gene that increases plant resistance to herbicides can accumulate agricultural chemicals.

The bad news is that the true impact on man and his genome can be traced only after generations.

How to identify GMOs in foods?

Naturally, with the naked eye, you will not be able to determine if there are GMOs in the products. And if a product is labeled "GMO-Free", it does not mean that it is not there. This means that, based on the results of the check, the product passed the test for the permissible content of GMOs, or the law was simply circumvented.

What foods contain GMOs?

Knowing some secrets, you will be able to distinguish GMO products from conventional ones.

If we are talking about vegetables / fruits, then it’s simple: for sure you will be suspicious of potatoes of the same size without the slightest flaw, or strawberries as in the picture, or glossy gleaming apples the size of a child’s head (to generalize strongly).

When you entered the store and ran your eyes through the shelves, you should pay attention to the following hypothetically possible "representatives" of GMO products:

soy and its variants (milk, flour, beans, etc.)

corn and its derivatives (flour, popcorn, cereals, chips, butter, starch)

potatoes and their forms (chips, semi-finished products, dry mashed potatoes)

tomatoes and everything related to them (sauces, pastes, ketchups)

sugar beet

carrot

wheat and what is produced with its participation (bread, bakery products)

rice and rice products (flour, cereals, chips)

sunflower oil

An important fact is that genetically modified organisms are found in products containing corn or soy: corn flour, baby food, chocolate and sweets, milk powder, sausages, animal feed.

By the way, there are three leading products in terms of GMO content in their composition:

Sausages (about 85% of all boiled sausages and sardels), semi-finished products (chebureks, pancakes, dumplings)

Baby food (up to 70%). And everything would be fine, but even manufacturers who abuse GMOs are known (Danone, Similac, Nestle).

Confectionery, baked goods… well, you already know why. Greenpeace brought manufacturers to clean water here: Mars, Snickers, Coca-Cola, Pepsi.

Another important nuance. Fighters for truth and justice have found out that GMOs can hide behind E-shkami, that is, behind E indices (E-322 - soy lecithin, E-101 / E-101A - riboflavin, E-150 - caramel, E-415 - xanthan).

You also need to know which GMO components in the composition of prepared foods can be disguised as unknown words: soybean oil, vegetable fat, maltodextrin, glucose / glucose syrup, dextrose, aspartame (or whatever begins with "asp").

Fast food lovers! It is well known that MacDonalds heavily uses transgenic products in their snacks. Bon appetit!

What are non-GMO foods?

Using the above information, you can roughly navigate how to approach the choice of food.

As for vegetables / fruits, then let it be not an ideal tomato, not a kilogram potato, but quite an earthly culture. If you notice that some living creature has bitten somewhere, this is a good product. If it has a rich smell, it is most likely a natural product. If apples have the ability to rot after a certain period, these apples are worth buying.

By the way, buckwheat has not yet succumbed to genetic modification. So you can buy with confidence.

What does the inscription "GMO in products is absent" mean ... this is when the manufacturer's product is certified and these certificates are recognized by Europe. Among cereals and flour, such a trademark is Zhmenka.

And finally, non-GMO foods are organic. Have you seen eco-stalls and shops? So, you can start from there. Or grow your own. But you need to think about whether the seeds you buy do not carry the transgene.

Finally

Harm of GMO products, does it exist or not?

How much has the transgene been introduced into our lives?

Everyone has their own opinion on this, however, let's think: We do not know how much we are all affected by such products at the moment. And if, as some say, “I don’t care anymore. I have lived a life”, then think about the legacy and who will be left after you. What will children be like in three generations?

gmo ,

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)- these are organisms in which genetic material was artificially added from other animal organisms to obtain improved characteristics of the original organism (calorie content, resistance to pests, diseases, weather, accelerated maturation, longer storage, greater fertility), which reduces the cost of products.

Drought tolerant wheat with the scorpion gene. A potato with the gene of an earthen bacterium that even kills Colorado beetles. Tomatoes with the genome of the sea flounder. Soy and strawberries with bacterial genes. This is probably a great salvation, in the face of an ever-growing population and other economic problems.

At the moment, there are studies proving that the frequent use of GMOs can lead to serious problems. According to some studies transgenes can linger in the body and integrate into the genetic apparatus of human intestinal microorganisms.

In addition, it has been observed that the cultivation of transgenic soybeans leads to genetic mutations companion plants that become immune to the effects of herbicides. It is also assumed that living organisms that feed on genetically modified plants can mutate.

GMO products.

Grocery list, which may contain GMO:

Soy and its products (beans, sprouts, concentrate, flour, milk, etc.).
Corn and its products (popcorn, flour, chips, cereals, butter, starch, syrups, and so on).
Potato and its products (chips, semi-finished products, crackers, dry mashed potatoes, flour, and so on).
Tomatoes and its products (tomato paste, puree, sauce, ketchup, and so on).
Zucchini and products from them.
Sugar beet, table beet, sugar from sugar beet.
Wheat and wheat products, including bread and bakery products.
Sunflower oil.
Rice and products containing it (flakes, flour, granules, chips).
Carrots and products with it.
Onions, shallots, leeks and other bulbous vegetables.

And, of course, there is a chance to find GMOs in products that are made using these plants.

The most frequently genetically modified are soybeans, rapeseed, corn, sunflowers, potatoes, strawberries, tomatoes, zucchini, paprika, and lettuce. Genetically modified soy is included in bread, biscuits, baby food, margarine, soup, pizza, fast food, meat products, flour, candy, ice cream, chips, chocolate, sauces, soy milk and so on. Genetically modified corn (maize) is most commonly found in instant foods, soups, sauces, condiments, chips, chewing gum, and cake mixes. Genetically modified starch is added to a very wide range of products, including yoghurts. You should also know that 70% of well-known baby food companies contain GMOs. Approximately 30% of tea and coffee is genetically modified. Most products from America or other foreign countries, which include soy, corn, rapeseed or potatoes, have GM components. If the product contains vegetable protein, then you can be almost sure that there is also genetically modified soy.

In addition, insulin, vitamins, antiviral vaccines may also contain genetically modified organisms.

Below is a list of some of the organizations that supply genetically modified raw materials to Russia or are themselves producers of:

Central Soya Protein Group, Denmark;
OOO "BIOSTAR TRADE", St. Petersburg;
CJSC "Universal", Nizhny Novgorod;
"Monsanto Co", USA;
"Protein Technologies International Moscow", Moscow;
LLC "Agenda", Moscow
CJSC "ADM-Food Products", Moscow
JSC "GALA", Moscow;
CJSC "Belok", Moscow;
Dera Food Technology N.V., Moscow;
"Herbalife International of America", USA;
"OY FINNSOYPRO LTD", Finland;
LLC "Salon Sport-Service", Moscow;
"Intersoy", Moscow.

Below is a list of organizations that apply GMOs in production:

Kelloggs (Kelloggs) - breakfast cereals, corn flakes,
Nestle (Nestle) - chocolate, coffee, coffee drinks, baby food,
Heinz Foods (Heyents Fuds) - ketchups, sauces,
Hersheys (Hershis) - chocolate, soft drinks,
Coca-Cola (Coca-Cola) - Coca-Cola, Sprite, Fanta, Kinley tonic,
McDonalds (McDonald's),
Danon (Danone) - yogurts, kefir, cottage cheese, baby food,
Similac (Similak) - baby food,
Cadbury (Cadbury) - chocolate, cocoa,
Mars (Mars) - chocolate Mars, Snickers, Twix,
PepsiCo (Pepsi-Cola) - Pepsi, Mirinda, 7-Up,
Daria - meat products,
Campamos - meat products,
Korona - meat products,
Mikoyanovsky - meat products,
Tsaritsyno - meat products,
Lianozovsky - meat and dairy products,
Volzhsky PK - meat products.

GMOs are often masked indices E. But this does not mean that all additives E contain GMOs. You just need to understand which E supplements can contain GMOs.

Such additives are primarily called soy lecithin or E 322 lecithin: they are used as a fat element in milk mixtures, cookies, chocolate; riboflavin (B2) or E 101 and E 101A. 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. Often, the names of additives are written in words on packages.

E101 and E101A (B2, riboflavin)
E150 (caramel);
E153 (carbonate);
E160a (beta-carotene, provitamin A, retinol);
E160b (annatto);
E160d (lycopene);
E234 (lowlands);
E235 (natamycin);
E270 (lactic acid);
E300 (vitamin C - ascorbic acid);
E301 - E304 (ascorbates);
E306 - E309 (tocopherol / vitamin E);
E320 (VNA);
E321 (VNT);
E322 (lecithin);
E325 - E327 (lactates);
E330 (citric acid);
E415 (xanthine);
E459 (beta-cyclodextrin);
E460 -E469 (cellulose);
E470 and E570 (salts and fatty acids);
fatty acid esters (E471, E472a&b, E473, E475, E476, E479b);
E481 (sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate);
E620 - E633 (glutamic acid and glutomates);
E626 - E629 (guanilic acid and guanilates);
E630 - E633 (inosinic acid and inosinates);
E951 (aspartame);
E953 (isomaltite);
E957 (thaumatin);
E965 (maltinol).

Taste and smell genetically modified products does not differ from natural. But, products that are not spoiled, not damaged by insects, too beautiful products can arouse suspicion.

Since seeds are also modified, it is impossible to be sure of the naturalness of products on the markets.

The introduction of foreign genes into food products began as early as the discovery of DNA in 1944. However, this phenomenon reached industrial scale only at the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries, having managed to acquire supporters and opponents during this time.

The role of genetically modified products in modern society is great, they occupy a special place in the agricultural industry. So called transgenic plants partially solved the problem that humanity faced in the 70s: soil pollution with pesticides and chemicals on a colossal scale.

Some transgenic plants contain genes that protect them from diseases or pests, which saves the earth. At the same time, it was hoped that increasing the yield due to special genes would help overcome hunger throughout the world, but, unfortunately, the expectations did not materialize.

Expectations regarding the success of this invention did not materialize, scientists are still struggling with the question of how useful and harmful its use is. What is a GMO and how to distinguish it from a natural product?

Without GMO

Without GMOs - such a motto was chosen by Austria, Greece, Poland, Switzerland and Japan, declaring themselves completely free from genetically modified products. A large number of countries are free from them partially - by regions, many are just coming to this.

So, no one in the world has proven the direct harm of transgenic plants to the human body. However, the unconditional harmlessness has not been confirmed. There are two obvious shortcomings GMO. No, this is not cancer, and even less the risk of mutations.

Transgenic organisms are highly unpredictable. The simplest example: they germinate quickly and in any conditions. You just bought tomatoes, and they are already sprouted, and it's not that they are overcooked.

They cause allergies. Let's say you've purchased a vegetable with peanut genes that you're allergic to. You can find out about this only by marking, but what if the manufacturer is caught unscrupulous?

If you are only attracted natural food, there are several ways to distinguish it from transgenic.

1. As we have said, marking. As a rule, manufacturers who produce natural products, labeled as "100% Natural" or "GMO Free". If they contain any modifications, they make up no more than one percent.

2. Beautiful, smooth, shiny, “ideal” vegetables in shape and color should arouse your suspicions, and if they are all the same in size, there was some intervention. Look for traces of worm bugs. As a rule, traces of insects indicate the naturalness of the product.

3. Pitted. It is hard to imagine that nature has come up with something so useless in terms of productivity. Pitted watermelons are a prime example of this. There are also the most harmless characteristics. For example, apples that do not darken.

4. The code can say a lot about the product. For example, bananas with the code 4011 or 94011 are naturally grown. At the same time, US products with a five-digit code that starts with 8 are transgenic.

It will be useful to know that three-quarters of all soybeans in the world are GMOs, as well as a third of corn and one-fifth of rapeseed. By the way, the petunia gene has been introduced into peanuts. Please note that insects bypass these nuts.

It should also be distinguished selection from genetic engineering: watermelons, eggplants, bananas, carrots, peaches in the form in which we know them were bred artificially, but do not pose even an illusory threat.

Benefit or harm, with GMO or without, but you always need to know what is on your plate.

The topic of eating genetically modified foods is very relevant. Someone considers genetic engineering a violence against nature, and someone is afraid for their own health and the manifestation of side effects. While there are debates all over the world about the benefits and, many people buy and eat them without even knowing it.

What are genetically modified foods?

In modern society, there is a trend towards proper nutrition, and everything that is fresh and natural gets on the table. People try to bypass everything that is obtained from genetically modified organisms, the constitution of which has been radically changed with the help of genetic engineering. You can reduce their use only if you have an idea of what GMOs are in food.

Today, up to 40% of GMO products are sold in supermarkets: vegetables, fruits, tea and coffee, chocolate, sauces, juices and soda, even. It only takes one GM component for a food to be labeled GMO. In the list:

transgenic fruits, vegetables and possibly animals for food;
products with GM ingredients (for example, transgenic corn);
processed transgenic raw materials (for example, chips from transgenic corn).

How to distinguish genetically modified foods?

Genetically modified foods are obtained when a gene from one organism, bred in a laboratory, is planted in the cell of another. GMOs give a plant or a number of traits: resistance to pests, viruses, chemicals and external influences, but if genetically modified products regularly hit the shelves, how to distinguish them from natural ones? It is necessary to look at the composition and appearance:

Genetically modified products (GMP) have a long shelf life and do not deteriorate. Perfectly even, smooth, non-flavorful vegetables and fruits - almost certainly with GMOs. The same applies to bakery products that stay fresh for a long time.
Frozen semi-finished products are stuffed with transgenes - dumplings, meatballs, dumplings, pancakes, ice cream.
Products from the USA and Asia containing potato starch, soy flour and corn in 90% of GMO cases. If the product contains vegetable protein on the label, it is modified soy.
Cheap sausages usually contain soy concentrate, which is a GM ingredient.
Food additives E 322 (soy lecithin), E 101 and E 102 A (riboflavin), E415 (xanthan), E 150 (caramel) and others may indicate the presence.

Genetically modified products - "for" and "against"

There is a lot of controversy about this food. People are concerned about the environmental risks of growing them: genetically mutated forms can end up in the wild and lead to global changes in ecological systems. Consumers are concerned about food risks: possible allergic reactions, poisoning, diseases. The question arises: are genetically modified products needed on the world market? It is not yet possible to get rid of them completely. They do not impair the taste of food, and the cost of transgenic variants is much lower than natural ones. There are both opponents and supporters of GMF.

Harm of GMOs

There is not a single one hundred percent confirmed study that would indicate that modified foods are harmful to the body. However, opponents of GMOs call a lot of hard facts:

Genetic engineering can have dangerous and unpredictable side effects.
Harms the environment due to greater use of herbicides.
They can get out of control and spread, polluting the gene pool.
Some studies claim that GM foods are harmful as a cause of chronic diseases.

Benefits of GMOs

Genetically modified foods have their benefits. As for plants, less chemicals accumulate in transgenic than in natural counterparts. Varieties with a modified constitution are resistant to various viruses, diseases and weather, they ripen much faster, and even more are stored, they fight pests on their own. With the help of transgenic intervention, the time for selection is significantly reduced. These are the undoubted advantages of GMOs, besides, advocates of genetic engineering argue that eating GMF is the only way to save humanity from hunger.

Why are genetically modified foods dangerous?

Despite all attempts to find benefits from the introduction of modern science, genetic engineering, genetically modified foods are most often mentioned in a negative way. They carry three threats:

Environment (emergence of resistant weeds, bacteria, reduction of species or numbers of plants and animals, chemical pollution).
The human body (allergies and other diseases, metabolic disorders, changes in microflora, mutagenic effect).
Global risks (economic security, activation of viruses).

The following definition of GMOs seems to us the most accurate and simplest:

A genetically modified organism (GMO for short) is a living or plant organism, the genotype of which has been changed using genetic engineering methods to give the body new properties. Today, such changes are made almost everywhere in the creation of food for economic purposes, and sometimes for scientific purposes.

The difference of genetic modification is in the purposeful construction of the organism's genotype, which is in contrast to the random, characteristic of natural and artificial mutagenesis.

How do GM foods affect health?

Today it is absolutely proven that GMOs have a very detrimental effect on the human body. Due to the influence of such products in humans, the process of hematopoiesis may be disrupted. People who consume GMO foods are much more prone to cancer than others.

An interesting effect on the body of GMOs is that the human body ceases to respond adequately to drugs. In other words, it will be much more difficult to cure a GMO consumer of a disease. Genetically modified organisms, as well as products containing them, provoke the development of skin diseases, allergies, digestive disorders, and various disorders of the nervous system.

These studies were conducted on adults, with a strong body formed. One can only imagine how destructive the use of GMOs in children's nutrition will be. By the way, in some European countries the use of GMOs in children's nutrition is prohibited. Now manufacturers are "dumping" low-quality goods to third world countries.

Is genetically modified soy unsafe?

Experiments prove that genetically modified soybeans cause particular harm to the health and procreation of mammals. In addition to the high mortality rate among experimental rats, studies have also revealed an increased level of anxiety and even aggression among male, female, rat pups fed foods containing GMOs.

Today, shop windows are simply full of a variety of baby food. There are vegetables, and cereals, and soups, and cottage cheese - everything your heart desires. In fact, not everything is so great.

In the nutrition of a child, only natural products should be used, since only in this case you can be sure that they do not contain GMOs and you will not harm the health of your child.

What kind of baby food products are particularly dangerous in terms of GMO content? These are absolutely all canned meat and fish, products containing soy additives, soybean oil. Since most often, it is soy that is a genetically modified product. Almost all formulas that replace breast milk contain soy additives. Now, when buying boxes and jars, think about it. Let the baby get used to healthy food and a healthy lifestyle from birth.

But is there any benefit to GMOs?

GMO against cancer

In the United States, GMO-based scientists have developed a drug against cervical cancer. Already 13 women have tested this drug on themselves. They were given this terrible diagnosis. In 4 women, the condition improved significantly. In 1 patient, the cancer was completely gone. Since then, 2 years have passed, and the disease does not return. In 3 more women, the tumor decreased by 20%. 7 patients who participated in the experiment, unfortunately, still died of cancer.

Vaccine manufacturers believe that if the vaccine is used earlier in the disease, the results will be much more impressive. Today, scientists are also working with GMOs on vaccines for ovarian, prostate, breast, and brain cancers. With modern ecology, unfortunately, even a healthy lifestyle will not protect one hundred percent from cancer.

In England, transgenic chickens are bred, in which eggs are important for medicine. The proteins of the eggs of these birds are taken to make a drug that can cure malignant tumors. This important event took place just in the research institution in which the famous sheep Dolly was once created.

Ten years have passed since then. This discovery of scientists is on the verge of developing completely new drugs. These drugs will become much cheaper, their production will be easier, because for the production it is enough just to have a chicken coop and feed. The work of scientists from England will, without a doubt, be a new milestone on the path of healing humanity from a terrible disease.

What do GMO advocates say?

It is GMOs that will help solve food problems on our small planet. With the help of this technology, it is possible to breed such plants that will not care about African droughts and plant diseases. It is also possible to breed special, genetically modified species of farm animals, they will produce a lot of products and will not be picky about food, resistant to diseases.

Using this technology, it will also be possible to grow organs for transplantation, grow plants that are suitable for making tissues.

What are anti-GMOs saying?

It turned out that GMO corn, potatoes and soybeans are much more expensive. In addition, genetically modified plants do not produce viable seeds at all. That is, first of all, it is beneficial only to suppliers of planting material.

Another important disadvantage is that cultivated GMO plants in the field produce hybrids with wild plants. One can only imagine what mutants will be on our planet in a few decades.

Among other things, international terrorism may receive a new direction. After all, you can create so many new and unknown viruses, which will be very, very difficult to cope with, since when creating them, it is possible to lay down any qualities.

Most countries today put a special label on food, which indicates that it does not contain GMOs. Buy GMO products or not - the choice is always yours.