Genetically Modified Foods

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Genetically Modified Foods

• Michael Tung
• Ryan Benevedes
• Jesse Pyeatt
• Giovanni Minelli

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What is genetically modified food?

• Definition - food plants that have been
  genetically altered by the addition of foreign
  genes to enhance a desired trait.
• Examples selective breeding, seedless fruits,
  golden rice

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Case Study

• Case Study
• Why Kraft?
• Largest food company in the United States
• Second Largest in the World
• Products found in 99 of U.S.s households

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Case Study

• Kraft Foods Inc. (which includes both Kraft Foods
  North America and Kraft Foods International)
• Sells products under 61 brands in more than 140
  countries.
• This Separation of brands gives illusion of
  competition.
• In 2001, Kraft sold a staggering 33,875,000,000
  worth of food worldwide.
• Supermarket consultants say it would be nearly
  impossible to run a U.S. grocery store without
  them.
• Because Kraft makes so much of our food, it has
  an enormous responsibility not to taint it with
  genetically modified ingredients.

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Case Study

• Many of Krafts products are geared toward
  children.
• One of the dangers of GMF is that they may
  contain new allergens.
• Fact Children are more prone to allergies than
  adults
• 2 of adults
• 6 to 8 in children
• Children are part of the population most at risk.
• Estimated 29000 episodes of life threatening
  anaphylactic reactions occur each year killing
  about 150.
• Kraft should not be targeting our children with
  their untested and potentially dangerous
  genetically engineered foods

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Case Study

• September 2000, Kraft was forced to recall more
  than 25 million Taco Bell brand shells.
• Found to contain GM corn not approved for human
  consumption.
• EPA found corn (starlink) to carry proteins with
  six characteristics of food allergens.
• 300 hundred other products were later recalled
  under FDA orders.
• Kraft put unapproved genetically modified
  ingredients in our food. It should stop using
  these hard to manage ingredients altogether.

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Case Study

• Kraft is really owned by Phillip Morris, a name
  synonymous with the Tobacco industry.
• Tobacco kills about four million people annually.
• Can we trust a company with such direct ties to
  Philip Morris to put our health above profit?
  Kraft could begin to earn our faith by removing
  genetically engineered ingredients from its food
• Fact Lunchables causes 20 increases blood
  pressure in three weeks if eaten regulatory.
• Fit For Life listed Lunchables a one of the top
  ten foods that one should never eat.

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Case Study

• Products include
• Taco Bell taco shells, Boca Burgers, Lunchables,
  Post cereals and Stovetop Stuffing
• All of which had or still have unlabeled,
  untested genetically modified ingredients.
• Click here for a list of foods
• Americans have the right to know!
• Kraft justifies not labeling products stating
  they are only following FDA guidelines.

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FDA Guidelines

• If a bioengineered food is significantly
  different from its traditional counterpart such
  that the common or usual name no longer
  adequately describes the new food, the name must
  be changed to describe the difference.
• If an issue exists for the food or a constituent
  of the food regarding how the food is used or
  consequences of its use, a statement must be made
  on the label to describe the issue.
• If a bioengineered food has a significantly
  different nutritional property, its label must
  reflect the difference.
• If a new food includes an allergen that consumers
  would not expect to be present based on the name
  of the food, the presence of that allergen must
  be disclosed on the label.

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Case Study (continued)

• Krafty
• Kraft has taken away the rights of the people by
  hiding what their products consist of, mainly the
  GMO.
• This is not only unethical, it is dangerous.

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Professional Issues

• Hurts 3rd world economies because they are
  largely agricultural
• Agricultural jobs have dropped significantly
  (down to 3 of the population in the U.S.)
• more jobs for geneticists and researchers

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Legal Issues

• Potential law suits against companies if negative
  effects occurred from GMF
• No significant amount of regulation

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Ethical Issues

• Utilitarian for the well being of the
  community, the US should have a higher yield in
  crops thus lowering prices in food and making
  them more accessible to people. Foods are more
  resistant to negative effects. Quality?
• Rights/fairness/virtue it is the right of the
  consumer to know whether or not food is
  genetically modified or organic. Consumer has
  the right to feel safe about eating the food
  without having to worry about negative effects/

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Ethical Issues (continued)

• Common good GMF can contain medicines and
  treatments that can cure diseases (rice,
  potatoes, tomatoes, cereal, and ice cream)
• Kant individuals have the right to life, and GMF
  can provide food to those in need.

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Stakeholders

• Companies
• People eating the food
• Farmers
• Geneticists
• Plants/animals being modified
• Other organisms in the environment

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Possible Actions

• Stop GMF production altogether
• Strict regulations through FDA or similar
  organization
• Few essential regulations, but not many
• Free enterprise with regard to GMF

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If GMF Production is Stopped

• Positive Consequences
• No new health risks presented because of the GMF
• Ecosystems would remain completely intact.
• Negative Consequences
• Some major companies could possibly go out of
  business
• Malnutrition and hunger would continue on a large
  scale

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If Regulations are Placed on GMF

• Positive Consequences
• Research could continue to take place
• Ensures safety for consumer and quality of food
• Negative Consequences
• Costs would be higher for companies because they
  would have to do more testing
• Slower advancement in GMF field

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Free Enterprise of GMF

• Positive Consequences
• More and quicker research would take place.
• Many more people will be fed
• Prices would be very low for GMF
• Negative Consequences
• Potential lack of quality and safety of GMF for
  consumers
• New set of health problems would probably arise
  due to the lack of testing

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Common Good

• For the common good, having GMF will benefit
  society. Strict regulations will ensure that
  individual rights are respected.
• GMF will feed more people, save more lives
• Provide jobs for geneticists and researchers
• Can make for a healthier diet which in turn
  prolongs life

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Individual Rights/Fairness

• The best option to respect the rights of the
  people is to have regulations on GMF.
• This option would also be fair for companies
  because they are still allowed to produce GMF,
  but under regulations

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Final Decision

• GMF should be allowed under strict guidelines
• World hunger is an important issue and GMF can
  help the cause
• Under strict regulations, GMF can be safe

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Bibliography

• Carbone, June. Genetically Modified Foods The
  Creation of Trust and Access to Global Markets.
  15 Aug. 2000.
• FDA. Source http//www.fda.gov 19-Nov-03
• Krafted. Source http//www.krafty.org 19-Nov-03