feed your mind

Only a few types of GMO Potato crops1 are grown in the Papaya Some GMO potatoes2 were developed United States, but some to resist insect pests and disease. In By the 1990s, ringspot virus of these GMOs make up addition, some GMO potato varieties disease had nearly wiped a large percentage of the have been developed to resist bruising out Hawaii’s papaya crop, What GMO CROPS and browning that can occur when and in the process, almost crop grown (e.g., soybeans, potatoes are packaged, stored, and destroyed the papaya corn, sugar beets, canola, transported, or even cut in your kitchen. industry in Hawaii. A GMO and cotton). Most GMO While browning does not change the papaya,3 named the plants are used to make quality of the potato, it often leads to Rainbow papaya, was are grown and food being unnecessarily thrown away created to resist ringspot ingredients that are because people mistakenly believe virus. This GMO saved then used in other food browned food is spoiled. papaya farming4 on sold in the U.S.? products, for example, the Hawaiian Islands. cornstarch made with GMO SUMMER Squash corn or sugar made from WHOLE PRODUCE Apple GMO summer squash is resistant to GMO sugar beets. some plant viruses. Squash was one of A few varieties of GMO the first GMOs on the market, but it is apples were developed to not widely grown. resist browning after being cut. This helps cut down on food waste, as many consumers think brown apples are spoiled. Canola Soybean

GMO canola is used mostly to make Most soy grown in the United States is cooking oil and margarine. Canola seed GMO soy. Most GMO soy is used for Sugar Beet meal can also be used in food for animals. food for animals, predominantly poultry Alfalfa Canola oil is used in many packaged and livestock, and making soybean oil. Sugar beets are used foods to improve food consistency. Most It is also used as ingredients (lecithin, GMO alfalfa is primarily to make granulated GMO canola is resistant to herbicides emulsifiers, and proteins) in processed used to feed cattle—mostly sugar. More than half and helps farmers to more easily control foods. In 2018, GMO soybeans made dairy cows. Most GMO the granulated sugar weeds in their fields. In 2013, GMO up 94%7 of all soybeans planted. alfalfa10 is resistant packaged for grocery canola made up 95%6 of canola planted. to herbicides, allowing store shelves is made farmers to spray the crops from GMO sugar to protect them against beets. Because GMO CORN Cotton destructive weeds that can sugar beets are reduce alfalfa production Most GMO corn is created to resist insect pests GMO cotton was created resistant to herbicides, and lower the nutritional or tolerate herbicides. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn to be resistant to bollworms growing GMO sugar quality of the hay. is a GMO corn that produces proteins that are toxic and helped revive the Alabama beets helps farmers PACKAGED FOODS ANIMAL FOOD to certain insect pests but not to humans, pets, cotton industry. GMO cotton control weeds in their livestock, or other animals. These are the same types not only provides a reliable source fields. In 2013, GMO of proteins that organic farmers use to control insect of cotton for the textile industry, sugar beets made up pests, and they do not harm other, beneficial insects it is also used to make cottonseed 99.9%5 of all sugar such as ladybugs. GMO Bt corn reduces the need oil, which is used in packaged foods beets harvested. for spraying insecticides while still preventing and in many restaurants for frying. insect damage. While a lot of GMO corn goes into GMO cottonseed meal and hulls are processed foods and drinks, most of it is used to also used in food for animals. In feed livestock, like cows, and poultry, like chickens. 2018, GMO cotton made up 94%9 In 2018, 92%8 of corn planted was GMO corn. of all cotton planted. March 2020 — 1

Get more information about GMOs at www.fda.gov/feedyourmind. Sources:

1https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/adoption-of-genetically-engineered-crops-in-the-us.aspx 2https://www.aphis.usda.gov/brs/aphisdocs/13_02201p_dea.pdf 3https://naldc.nal.usda.gov/download/2909/PDF 4https://www.usda.gov/topics/biotechnology/biotechnology-frequently-asked-questions-faqs 5https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/81176/eib-163.pdf?v=42697 6https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/81176/eib-163.pdf?v=42697 7https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/adoption-of-genetically-engineered-crops-in-the-us.aspx 8https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/adoption-of-genetically-engineered-crops-in-the-us.aspx 9https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/adoption-of-genetically-engineered-crops-in-the-us.aspx 10https://www.ers.usda.gov/amber-waves/2017/may/genetically-modified-alfalfa-production-in-the-united-states/

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