genetically modified foods

• a genetically modified food is one thats had its genes altered to give it useful characteristics, such as improving its growth or changing its colour
• GM plants are produced by inserted a desirable gene from another plant, an animal or a bacterium into the plant you want to improve
• you can get GM maize thats pest-resistant, which means the farmer gets a bigger yield because less of the crop is eaten by pests
• GM weedkiller resistant crops can withstand chemicals that kill the weeds around the crop
• currently, no GM crops are grown in the UK, but its popular in other countries
• GM advantages:

  • crops can be made to grow quicker
  • producers can get higher yields of crops for the same amount of seed and fertiliser
  • food is cheaper to produce and so is also cheaper for the consumer to buy
  • crops can be modified to contain extra nutrients, which can improve nutrition in poor countries
• GM disadvantages:

  • GM crops havent been around for long, so we dont know the long term effects
  • weedkiller resistance could possibly be transferred to a weed, making it indestructible
  • GM producers cant sell the produce everywhere because the EU restricts the import of some GM foods
• in the EU:

  • all GM foods must undergo strict safety assessments
  • meat and dairy products from animals fed on GM feed are not labelled
  • if foods contain more than 1 percent GM ingredients, they must be clearly labelled