For my last post I have chosen to talk about a very controversial sector in Food Safety, Genetically Modified Food. The FDA regulates the safety of food for humans and animals, including foods produced from genetically engineered (GE) plants. (FDA) Foods from GE plants must meet the same food safety requirements as foods derived from traditionally bred plants. (FDA) A question may be how does the FDA regulate the genetically modified foods? The existing FDA safety requirements impose a clear legal duty on everyone in the farm to table continuum to market safe foods to consumers, regardless of the process by which such foods are created. It is unlawful to produce, process, store, ship or sell to consumers unsafe foods.(FDA)
In the Federal Register of May 29, 1992 (57 FR 22984), FDA published its "Statement of Policy: Foods Derived from New Plant Varieties" (the 1992 policy). (FDA) The 1992 policy clarified the agency's interpretation of the application of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to human foods and animal feeds derived from new plant varieties and provided guidance to industry on scientific and regulatory issues related to these foods. (FDA) The 1992 policy applied to all foods derived from all new plant varieties, including varieties that are developed using recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid (rDNA) technology. (FDA) This site refers to foods derived from plant varieties that are developed using rDNA technology as "bio-engineered foods." (FDA)
In the 1992 policy, FDA recommended that developers consult with FDA about bio-engineered foods under development; since issuance of the 1992 policy, developers have routinely done so. (FDA) In June 1996, FDA provided additional guidance to industry on procedures for these consultations (the consultation procedures). (FDA) These procedures describe a process in which a developer who intends to commercialize a bio-engineered food meets with the agency to identify and discuss relevant safety, nutritional, or other regulatory issues regarding the bio-engineered food and then submits to FDA a summary of its scientific and regulatory assessment of the food; FDA evaluates the submission and responds to the developer by letter. (FDA)
In the Federal Register of January 18, 2001 (the pre-market notification proposal; 66 FR 4706), FDA issued a proposed rule that would require that developers submit a scientific and regulatory assessment of the bio engineered food 120 days before the bio-engineered food is marketed. (FDA) In the pre-market notification proposal, FDA recommends that developers continue the practice of consulting with the agency before submitting the required pre-market notice.
Most bio-engineered plants are considered "regulated articles" under regulations of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). (FDA) At some stage of research and development of a regulated article that is intended for use as a food crop, a developer requests from APHIS a determination of the article's regulatory status. (FDA)
The safe use of pesticidal substances is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (FDA) Thus, a bio-engineered food that is the subject of a consultation with FDA may contain an introduced pesticidal substance also known as a plant-incorporated protectant (PIP) that is subject to review by EPA. (FDA)
What are we willing to subject ourselves to? Is there any benefits to Genetically Modified Foods? In many ways GM foods enable the population of the planet to grow and reap the benefits but is there a cost? Without Genetically Modified Food sources, would we have enough food to feed the population? There is two sides to every story and we need to review and research about Food Safety from secure, reliable sources to make our own choices A few sites that could be used in any research would be articles from the FDA and the USDA.
Reference
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (n.d.). Retrieved March 01, 2016, from http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodScienceResearch/GEPlants/
This was a very nice post. Coming from a farm I know a lot of what you were talking about and your information was very spot on! The information in the graph is also very organized and displays your information and points nicely. Good organization with your points and your thoughts and about the FDA with the foods on this planet and what is going on with them.
ReplyDeleteI found this post fascinating since I was aware about the whole food engineering. I saw liked how you were unbiased and informed us about both sides of the story. The infographic did a great job of simplifying the information
ReplyDeleteThis post was great!! The infographic that you included is a nice asset with the other information you outlined in the post. I didnt know a lot of the information provided. Honestly, I dont think many people know and understand much about food engineering, but your blog would be a great source of information without being too technical.
ReplyDeleteOhhhh this so good. I really like information about food health and safety. I like the statistics you shared as well!!!
ReplyDeleteI said that i would visit your blog again because the first post had some great information and with this one i love that you added a picture that included stats. I don't know much about food engineering but this post was very good.
ReplyDeleteThis was a great post! you had so much helpful information and did a nice job of organizing it. the infographic was a nice touch too. you can tell this topic means a lot to you, nice work!
ReplyDeleteI like your little infographic at the end. I can tell you enjoyed your topic a lot, just by reading your intro. I liked how you showed both sides, that was really good that you were not bias. Great job.
ReplyDeleteThis post was filled with a lot of good facts. I learned a lot from reading this post as well as your other posts. I really liked the info-graphic you put at the end.
ReplyDeleteI think this post is very informational. It really is up to each person at this point to make the decision because of the uncertainty of consequences about eating genetically modified food. I think that most people don't really think about everything that really goes into their food which is why they will buy the genetically modified foods without even a thought.
ReplyDeleteI believe that this post was extremely informational. The topic is prevalent to our lives and we need to learn and understand more about what we eat. This topic helps to explain the decisions that we make when we eat these modified foods and what are actually containing.
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