GMOs: What’s all the fuss? Alan McHughen University of California Riverside, CA [email protected].
GMO Backgrounder What does the science say? · What does the science say? Alan McHughen University...
Transcript of GMO Backgrounder What does the science say? · What does the science say? Alan McHughen University...
![Page 1: GMO Backgrounder What does the science say? · What does the science say? Alan McHughen University of California, Riverside, Ca. 92521 alanmc@ucr.edu. Drought Resistant Plant Drought](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022081409/6086df6b39996f1cad6ca3b4/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
GMO Backgrounder
What does the science say?
Alan McHughen
University of California,
Riverside, Ca. 92521
![Page 2: GMO Backgrounder What does the science say? · What does the science say? Alan McHughen University of California, Riverside, Ca. 92521 alanmc@ucr.edu. Drought Resistant Plant Drought](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022081409/6086df6b39996f1cad6ca3b4/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Drought Resistant CornNormal CornDrought Resistant Plant
“drought resistance” gene “drought resistance” gene
![Page 3: GMO Backgrounder What does the science say? · What does the science say? Alan McHughen University of California, Riverside, Ca. 92521 alanmc@ucr.edu. Drought Resistant Plant Drought](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022081409/6086df6b39996f1cad6ca3b4/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
What IS a GMO?Differences in GM Definition
EU (EFSA):
Captures based on Process of rDNA (genetic
engineering) plus other “in vitro” techniques
Derived cultivars (combining GE events) are captured
USA (FDA, USDA, EPA):
Captures based on Process of rDNA
Derived cultivars (of approved events) are exempt
Canada (CFIA, Health Canada):
Captures based on “Novelty” of the Product (PNT).
![Page 4: GMO Backgrounder What does the science say? · What does the science say? Alan McHughen University of California, Riverside, Ca. 92521 alanmc@ucr.edu. Drought Resistant Plant Drought](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022081409/6086df6b39996f1cad6ca3b4/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Scientific Consensus on Safety? Generally positive
* US National Academies
* US Institute of Medicine
* American Medical Association
* British Royal Society
* Royal Society of Medicine
* EFSA
* EU Economic Commission
* World Health Organization
* AAAS
* American Dietetic Association
* International Seed Foundation
Etc, etc…
Generally negative
![Page 5: GMO Backgrounder What does the science say? · What does the science say? Alan McHughen University of California, Riverside, Ca. 92521 alanmc@ucr.edu. Drought Resistant Plant Drought](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022081409/6086df6b39996f1cad6ca3b4/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Sodium free?
![Page 6: GMO Backgrounder What does the science say? · What does the science say? Alan McHughen University of California, Riverside, Ca. 92521 alanmc@ucr.edu. Drought Resistant Plant Drought](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022081409/6086df6b39996f1cad6ca3b4/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Diet Water?
![Page 7: GMO Backgrounder What does the science say? · What does the science say? Alan McHughen University of California, Riverside, Ca. 92521 alanmc@ucr.edu. Drought Resistant Plant Drought](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022081409/6086df6b39996f1cad6ca3b4/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
“Truthful and not misleading”?
![Page 8: GMO Backgrounder What does the science say? · What does the science say? Alan McHughen University of California, Riverside, Ca. 92521 alanmc@ucr.edu. Drought Resistant Plant Drought](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022081409/6086df6b39996f1cad6ca3b4/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Extreme Genetic Engineering?
![Page 9: GMO Backgrounder What does the science say? · What does the science say? Alan McHughen University of California, Riverside, Ca. 92521 alanmc@ucr.edu. Drought Resistant Plant Drought](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022081409/6086df6b39996f1cad6ca3b4/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
When Grape-Nuts went GMO-free
OriginalNonGMO
![Page 10: GMO Backgrounder What does the science say? · What does the science say? Alan McHughen University of California, Riverside, Ca. 92521 alanmc@ucr.edu. Drought Resistant Plant Drought](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022081409/6086df6b39996f1cad6ca3b4/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Mandatory Process-based Labels Manufacturers reformulate to rid GE content
E.g., Cheerios, Grape Nuts
Remove products from shelves
GM tomato paste in UK
Label everything “May contain GMO”
Paradox: some foods have labels, but no GM
content; others have GM content but no label
Liability insurance drives up costs to all
Especially non-GE foods
Liability for mistaken non-label is large.
![Page 11: GMO Backgrounder What does the science say? · What does the science say? Alan McHughen University of California, Riverside, Ca. 92521 alanmc@ucr.edu. Drought Resistant Plant Drought](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022081409/6086df6b39996f1cad6ca3b4/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Points to Ponder Non-standard definition/regulation of GMO
Impacts on Trade
Regulatory uncertainty:
Insulin? Vitamins? Cheese? Cisgenic? New techniques?
Mandatory Process-based labeling
Undermines current product + safety based labels
Opens door to mandatory labels for other processes
Radiation mutagenesis, Pesticides, Organic, Union-made, etc.
Increase costs of all foods (not just GE)
Probably won’t satisfy *anyone*
Not the best way to convey info to consumers.