Now there are about 5 billion people in the world. According to scientists, by the end of the century, the world's population may increase to 10 billion.

One of the main problems faced by mankind is the lack of food. Even now, with a population of 5 billion, people in some regions are starving. In this regard, the most productive biotechnologies are being introduced into agriculture. One such technology is genetic engineering, which creates genetically modified products.

The essence of genetic engineering is as follows. Any plant or animal has thousands of different characteristics. For example, in plants: the color of the leaves, the size of the seeds, the presence of a certain vitamin in the fruits, etc. For the presence of each specific trait, a specific gene is responsible, which is a small piece of a DNA molecule and is responsible for the appearance of a specific trait of a plant or animal. If you remove the gene responsible for the appearance of a certain trait, then the trait itself will disappear. If, for example, a new gene is added, then the plant will also have a new trait. A genetically modified plant can now be called a mutant. By the end of the twentieth century, experiments on artificial change (modification) of plants and animals were very widespread.

The first genetically modified food was the tomato. Its new property was the ability to lie unripe for months at a temperature of 12 degrees. But as soon as such a tomato is placed in heat, it becomes ripe in a few hours.

The leading role in the genetic engineering of products is occupied by the United States. 68% of all genetically modified products are produced there. They are followed by France and Canada. American corporations are conducting their experiments in Central and South America. The largest company is Monsanto.

Americans have made changes to strawberries, tulips. A variety of genetically modified potatoes has been developed that absorbs less fat when fried. They also plan to get cube-shaped giant tomatoes soon to make them easier to pack in boxes. The Swiss began to grow corn, which releases its own poison against pests, and there are many such examples.

Similar developments are being carried out in Russia. Thus, the Moscow Institute of Potato Growing produces potatoes with human blood interferon, which improves immunity. The Institute of Animal Husbandry received a patent for a sheep whose milk contains rennet extract required for cheese production. Experts say that with the new cheese production technology, only 200 sheep will be enough to provide the whole of Russia with cheese.

There are many such examples. Obviously, due to the ability to genetically modify products, humanity is on the verge of real revolution in crop and livestock production, and in the 21st century there will be a large number of relatively inexpensive products. The report of the Commission on Agriculture of the Council of Europe says that genetically modified products will support agriculture, which is especially important for developing countries.

Genetically modified foods: pros and cons

Since the appearance of the first genetically modified product, the history of confrontation between their opponents and supporters has begun. There is no clear advantage on either side.

The main argument of supporters of modified products is the characteristics of the vegetables, fruits, and crops themselves, improved by engineers. Genetically modified foods are more resistant to all kinds of viruses and bacteria. They keep longer. Farmers used to use tons of chemicals to save their crops, now they can save money. In addition, these products can be resistant to both cold and heat, and they do not care about salty soils.

The goals of genetic technology applied to animals are usually to accelerate and increase their growth. Cows with increased fat content in milk and salmon have been obtained, which grow very quickly and do not need to migrate from sea water to fresh water.

To date, there are several hundred genetically modified foods. For several years now, modified foods have been used by millions of people in most countries of the world. Perhaps you, dear reader, without knowing it, have already eaten more than one kilogram of genetically modified foods.

Transgenes are found in products that contain soy protein, in the same sausages. Russia imports soybeans from countries where the cultivation of genetically modified soybeans has been allowed for a long time. In America and Canada, in fact, there are no traditional varieties left, they are all produced at the gene level. Every year our country buys about 400 thousand tons of genetically modified soy protein.

If genetic manipulations are carried out under the control of official bodies, then such products can be considered completely safe. By making changes to the gene code of a plant or animal, scientists are doing the same thing that nature itself does. Absolutely all living organisms from bacteria to humans are the result of mutations and natural selection. But if nature takes thousands of years to form new species, then scientists produce this process in a few years. There is no fundamental difference, the question is the time of the experiments.

However, genetically modified foods are quite a few opponents. There is even an organization called Doctors and Scientists Against Genetically Modified Foods. If we discard the ethical issues in the production of these products, which some consider as unnatural interference with the nature created by God, then the opponents of modified products will still have a lot of arguments.

They say that now genetic engineering is not perfect. She is unable to control the process of inserting a new gene. Therefore, it is not possible to predict the insertion site and the effects of the added gene. Even if the location of the gene can be determined after its insertion into the genome, the available knowledge of the functioning of DNA is still very incomplete in order to predict the consequences. As a result of the artificial addition of a foreign gene, dangerous substances can unexpectedly be formed. In the worst case, these can be toxic substances, allergens, or other unhealthy elements.

It has not yet been proven that organisms modified by genetic engineering will not have a harmful effect on the environment. Ecologists have speculated about various potential environmental complications. For example, there are many opportunities for the uncontrolled spread of potentially harmful genes used by genetic engineering, including gene transfer by bacteria and viruses. Complications caused in the environment are likely to be unrepairable, since released genes cannot be taken back.

Opponents refute the talk that these developments will help feed all of humanity with specific data: now similar products, rather, satisfy purely commercial interests. No significant results have been achieved in the fight against hunger in developing countries with the help of modified foods. Genetically modified products, designed to solve the problem of hunger in many developing countries, have so far only appeared on the shelves of developed countries. However, the inhabitants of these countries prefer natural products, since the possible negative consequences of eating artificially improved plants or animals have not yet been fully clarified.

Public opinion is generally opposed to modified products. Under pressure from public organizations, some states have passed laws to stop research in this area, many have introduced a separate certification for these products, and obligated manufacturers to indicate the origin of products on packages. Naturally, the demand for modified products has plummeted. No matter how hard, for example, Monsanto, which spent about a million dollars to promote its products, the result was almost zero.

Then the companies began to lobby their interests in the parliaments and the highest executive authorities of their countries. The US has never imposed restrictions, modified products are sold there on a par with ordinary ones. Now the same is happening in New Zealand, Australia. In Europe, they seriously thought about the abolition of mandatory labeling.

Since 1996, Russia has had a law regulating activities in the field of genetic engineering. According to this document, imported products containing genetically modified components must be certified and tested for safety at Russian scientific institutes. After that, they can be put into general consumption. According to the law, in the summer of 1999, the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation issued the first license for the import of genetically modified products. The first sign was soy from the company Monsanto. In September 1999, a government decree was issued, according to which, from July 2000, all products containing GM components must be labeled. However, there are no mechanisms for monitoring the implementation of the resolution yet.

Most likely, after the abolition of laws and regulations requiring manufacturers to notify consumers of the origin of the product, modified samples will merge with traditional ones, and no one will be able to say for sure what he eats. People will simply be forced to buy "improved" products. It is hoped that research on the possible harmful effects of modified foods on the human body will continue. They will be called upon to resolve all disputes.

Outwardly, such food products seem to be no different from normal ones, and this is precisely their particular danger. Bread looks like bread, meat looks like meat, vegetables and fruits look even better than normal. And there is no difference in taste! But ... on the other hand, there are very significant differences ON THE GENETIC LEVEL. The chromosomes of genetically modified organisms carry the implanted parts of other plants and animals, and not only! These "modestly" hushed up genetic changes in plants and animals produce in the organisms of people who consume genetically modified foods, irreversible changes LEADING TO COMPLETE STERILITY, dangerous allergies, food poisoning, mutations, development of resistance to antibiotics, etc.

Blacklist of GMO food manufacturers according to Greenpeace /Greenpeace/:

No. Foodstuff Companies Product name

1. Chocolate products Hershey's Cadbury Fruit&Nut
2. Mars M&M
3. Snickers
4. Twix
5. Milky Way
6. Cadbury (Cadbury) chocolate, cocoa
7. Ferrero
8. Nestle chocolate "Nestle", ""
9. Chocolate drink Nestle Nesquik
10. Soft drink Coca-Cola "Coca-Cola" Coca-Cola
11. Sprite, Fanta, Kinley tonic, Fruittime
12. Pepci-Co Pepsi
13. "7-Up", "Fiesta", "Mountain Dew"
14. Kellogg's breakfast cereal
15. Campbell Soups
16. Rice Uncle Bens Mars
17. Knorr sauces
18. Lipton tea
19. Parmalat cookies
20. Seasonings, mayonnaises, Hellman's sauces
21. Seasonings, mayonnaise, Heinz sauces
22. Baby food Nestle
23. Hipp
24 Abbot Labs Similac
25. Yoghurts, kefir, cheese, baby food Denon
26. McDonald's (McDonald's) a network of "restaurants" fast food
27. Chocolate, chips, coffee, baby food Kraft (Kraft)
28. Ketchups, sauces. Heinz Foods
29. Baby food, products "Delmi" Unilever (Unilever)

Products in the preparation technology of which GMOs are used:

AOOT "Nizhny Novgorod oil and fat plant" (mayonnaises "Ryaba", "For the future", etc.).
Products "Bonduelle" (Hungary) - beans, corn, green pea.
CJSC "Baltimore-Neva" (St. Petersburg) - ketchups.
CJSC "Mikoyanovsky meat-packing plant" (city) - pastes, minced meat.
CJSC YUROP FOODS GB" (Nizhny Novgorod region) - soups "Galina Blanca".
Concern "White Ocean" (Moscow) - chips "Russian Potato".
OJSC "Lianozovsky Dairy Plant" (Moscow) - yoghurts, "Miracle Milk", "Miracle Chocolate".
OJSC "Cherkizovsky MPZ" (Moscow) - frozen minced meat.
OOO "Kampina" (Moscow region) - yoghurts, baby food.
LLC "MK Gurman" (Novosibirsk) - pastes.
LLC "Frito" (Moscow region) - chips "Layz".
LLC "Ehrmann" (Moscow region) - yoghurts.
OOO "Unilever CIS" (city of ) - mayonnaise "Calve".
Factory "Bolshevik" (Moscow) - cookies "Jubilee".
"Nestle" (Switzerland, Finland) - dry milk mixture "Nestogen", mashed potatoes "Vegetables with beef".

Black list of GMO food manufacturers according to Greenpeace /Greenpeace/ for 2011:

Daria - semi-finished products LLC, Klinskiy Meat Processing Plant LLC, Tagansky MPZ, CampoMos MPZ, Vichyunay CJSC, MLM-RA LLC, Talosto-Products LLC, Bogatyr Sausage Plant LLC, LLC "ROS Marie Ltf"

Unilever manufacturing company: Lipton (tea), Brooke Bond (tea), Beseda (tea), Calve (mayonnaise, ketchup), Rama (butter), Pyshka (margarine), Delmi (mayonnaise, yogurt, margarine ), "Algida" (ice cream), Knorr (seasonings); Nestle manufacturing company: Nescafe (coffee and milk), Maggi (soups, broths, mayonnaise, Nestle (chocolate), Nestea (tea), Neseiulk (cocoa);

Kellog's: Corn Flakes (flakes), Frosted Flakes (flakes), Rice Krispies (flakes), Corn Pops (flakes), Smacks (flakes), Froot Loops (colored flakes), Apple Jacks (apple flavored flakes) ), Afl-bran Apple Cinnamon/ Blueberry (apple, cinnamon, blueberry flavored bran), Chocolate Chip ( chocolate chips), Pop Tarts (stuffed cookies, all flavors), Nulri grain (filled toast, all types), Crispix (cookies), All-Bran (cereal), Just Right Fruit & Nut (cereal), Honey Crunch Corn Flakes ( flakes), Raisin Bran Crunch (flakes), Cracklin'Oat Bran (flakes);

Hershey's Manufacturing Company: Toblerone (chocolate, all types), Mini Kisses (candy), Kit-Kat (chocolate bar), Kisses (candy), Semi-Sweet Baking Chips (cookies), Milk Chocolate Chips (cookies), Reese's Peanut Butter Cups ( peanut butter), Special Dark ( dark chocolate), Milk Chocolate (milk chocolate), Chocolate Syrup ( chocolate syrup), Special Dark Chocolate Syrup (chocolate syrup), Strawberry Syrup (strawberry syrup);

Mars Manufacturing Company: M&M'S, Snickers, Milky Way, Twix, Nestle, Crunch (chocolate rice cereal), Milk Chocolate Nestle (chocolate), Nesquik (chocolate drink), Cadbury (Cadbury/Hershey's), Fruit & Nut;

Heinz manufacturing company: Ketchup (regular & no salt) (ketchup), Chili Sauce (Chili sauce), Heinz 57 Steak Sauce (meat sauce);

Coca-Cola manufacturing company: Coca Cola, Sprite, Charry Cola, Minute Maid Orange, Minute Maid Grape;

PepsiCo manufacturing company: Pepsi, Pepsi Cherry, Mountain Dew;

Frito Manufacturing Company - Lay / PepsiCo: (GM components may be contained in oil and other ingredients), Lays Potato Chips (all), Cheetos (all);

Manufacturing company Cadbury / Schweppes: 7-Up, Dr. pepper;

Pringles Procter & Gamble: Pringles (Original, LowFat, Pizzalicious, Sour Cream & Onion, Salt & Vinegar, Cheezeums flavored chips).

The same product manufacturing company can produce three categories of the same product:

The first is for domestic consumption (in industrialized countries);
the second - for export to other developed countries;
the third - for export to developing countries.

The third category includes about 80% of food, beverages, tobacco products exported from the United States and countries. According to the UN Food Commission, some Western firms are expanding the export of goods not only environmentally hazardous, but also prohibited in developed countries.

Meanwhile, more than two hundred types of food additives are not allowed for use in Russia due to the incompleteness of the testing complex. Listing them would take too much space. We will name only the finally prohibited and definitely harmful to humans:

E121 - citrus red dye,
E123 - red amaranth,
E240 - formaldehyde preservative.

A scorpion gene was used to create a drought-tolerant wheat variety

Many scientists fear that GMOs increase the risk of food allergies, poisoning, mutations, tumors, and resistance to antibiotics. It is possible that foreign DNA can accumulate in the internal organs of a person, as well as enter the nuclei of embryonic cells, which can lead to congenital malformations and even death of the fetus.

The risk group includes children under 4 years old, they are the least protected from the effects of foreign genes.

Allergenicity and toxicity

More than half of the transgenic proteins that provide plant resistance to insects, fungal and bacterial diseases are toxic and allergenic.

For example, the use of albumin - a gene from DNA brazil nuts When creating a GM soybean variety with an improved amino acid composition, a significant number of people suffered from an exacerbation of allergic diseases.

Insecticides can block enzymes digestive tract not only in insects, but also in humans, and also affect the pancreas.

A number of transgenic varieties of corn and insect-resistant tomatoes produce lignin, a substance that prevents plant damage. It can decompose into toxic and mutagenic phenols and methanol. Therefore, an increase in the content of lignin in the fruits and leaves of plants is dangerous for humans.

The most striking example of the toxicity of GMOs was the case of the Japanese company Showa Denko K..K., which began to supply the food additive GM tryptophan to the market, believing that it is the equivalent of an unmodified analogue. The GM amino acid caused the death of 37 people, and about one and a half thousand more remained disabled for life.

Carcinogenicity and mutagenicity

GMOs can become mutagenic and carcinogenic due to their ability to accumulate herbicides and their degradation products. For example, the herbicide glyphosate, used in the cultivation of transgenic sugar beet and cotton, is a strong carcinogen and can cause lymphoma.

Some herbicides can Negative influence on the survival and health of human embryos, and cause mutations.

As a result of intracellular processes in varieties of GM tobacco and rice, which are characterized by increased productivity, biologically accumulate active substances capable of inducing the development of cancer. Studies have shown that in rats fed transgenic potatoes, the composition of the blood deteriorated, anomalies in the sizes were revealed. internal organs, in almost all dead animals, the small and large intestines were identified.

The emergence of antibiotic resistance

Most GM crops, in addition to the genes that give them the desired properties, contain antibiotic resistance genes as markers. Common antibiotics such as ampicillin (respiratory tract infections, sinusitis and urinary tract infections) and kanamycin (tuberculosis, upper and lower respiratory tract infections) are used in food production. There is a danger that they can be transferred to pathogens, which can cause them to become resistant to antibiotics. In this case, traditional methods of treating inflammatory processes with antibiotics will be ineffective.

Resistance to a group of antibiotics that are used to treat lung infections, chlamydia and urinary tract infections in Spain, the Netherlands and has reached 82%.

Proven: transgenic corn reduces reproduction

Austrian scientists conducted several long-term experiments that took about 20 weeks. One test showed that mice fed 33% of the diet with GM corn from the company "" (variety NK 603 x MON 810) had fewer pups in their third and fourth litters. The weight of the mice also became less. Animals that have been fed regular corn had normal reproductive cycles.

According to study leader Professor Jurgen Zentek, a veterinary specialist at the University of Vienna, the statistical differences between the two groups of animals were significant, and this effect is most likely due to the characteristics of the diet of mice.

The effect of this variety of GM corn on reproduction was a complete surprise. Previously, all commissions recognized it as absolutely safe, having made a catastrophic mistake. Back in 2005, EFSA (European Food Standards Agency) gave the green light to this GM crop. According to the agency's report, "the NK603 x MON810 variety does not exert any harmful influence on human and animal health.” In the light of new data, it is clear how imperfect the system for assessing the safety of GM foods adopted in EFSA is.

This type of corn is approved for cultivation and consumption in many countries, including Argentina, Japan, and South Africa. In Russia, as well as in Mexico and the European Union, these GM corn varietal lines are allowed to be added to food for both humans and animals. The results of the study once again confirm that no one can guarantee the safety of food products containing GMOs.

Ecology

The question of the benefits or harms of genetically modified products began to rise as soon as such products appeared in nature. Some defenders of such production began to say: "This is the only way to feed the poor! GM crops benefit farmers! GMO foods are safe!" and so on ... However, opponents of the use of such products find many rebuttals.

We invite you to learn about 10 reasons why you should avoid genetically modified foods, which he told Jeffrey Smith from Institute of Responsible Technologies. An expert in the field of GMOs will talk about the dangers that lie behind products produced using genetically modified organisms.

1) GMOs are very unhealthy food

American Academy of Environmentally Friendly Medicine urges doctors to protect patients from the use of products with GMOs. They cite studies that such foods harm the organs, digestive and immune systems, accelerate the aging process and lead to infertility. Human studies show that such foods can leave a special material in the body that causes many health problems over a long period. For example, genes that are introduced into soybeans can be transferred to the DNA of bacteria that live inside us. Toxic insecticides produced by genetically modified corn enter the bloodstream of pregnant women and fetuses.

A large number of diseases appeared after the production of genetically modified foods began in 1996. In America, the number of people with three or more chronic conditions has increased from 7 percent to 13 percent in just 9 years. The number of food allergies and problems such as autism, reproductive disorders, digestive problems and others has skyrocketed. Although there have not yet been detailed studies that have confirmed that GMOs are to blame, the Academy experts warn that you should not wait for these problems to come and you should protect your health now, especially the health of children, who are at the greatest risk.

American Public Health Association and American Association Nurses are also warned that modified ruminant growth hormones increase levels of the hormone IGF-1 (insulin growth factor 1) in cow's milk, which has been linked to cancer.

2) GMOs are on the rise

Genetically modified seeds are constantly spreading around the world naturally. It is impossible to completely clean up our gene pool. Self-propagating GMOs can survive the problems of global warming and the effects of nuclear waste. The potential impact of these organisms is very high, as they threaten future generations. The spread of GMOs can cause economic losses, leaving organic farmers vulnerable as they constantly struggle to protect their crops.

3) GMOs require more herbicide use

Most GM crops are designed to be tolerant of weed killers. From 1996 to 2008, US farmers used approximately 174,000 tons of herbicides for GMOs. The result was "superweeds" that were resistant to the chemicals used to kill them. Farmers are forced to use more and more herbicides every year. Not only is this harmful to the environment, but such products end up accumulating a high percentage of toxic chemicals that can lead to infertility, hormonal disorders, malformations, and cancer.

4) Genetic engineering has dangerous side effects

By mixing the genes of completely unrelated species, genetic engineering entails a lot of unpleasant and unexpected consequences. Moreover, regardless of the types of genes that are introduced, the very process of creating a genetically modified plant can lead to serious negative consequences, including toxins, carcinogens, allergies, and nutrient deficiencies.

5) The government turns a blind eye to dangerous consequences

Many of the health and environmental implications of GMOs are ignored by government regulations and safety analysis. The reasons for this may be political motives. US Food and Drug Administration, for example, did not require a single study confirming the safety of GMOs, does not require appropriate labeling of products, and allows companies to send genetically modified products to the markets without informing management.

They justify themselves by saying that they do not have information that GM products are significantly different from conventional ones. However, this is a lie. Secret memos that the FDA receives from the public who go to court show that most scientists working for the FDA agree that GMOs can cause unpredictable effects that are difficult to detect. The White House has instructed the Office to continue to work with biotechnology.

6) The biotech industry hides the facts about the dangers of GMOs

Some biotech companies are trying to prove that GMO products are completely harmless using superficial and falsified research data. Independent scientists have long since refuted these claims, finding evidence that this is not the case. It is beneficial for such companies to distort and deny information about the dangers of GMOs in order to avoid problems and stay afloat.

7) Independent research and reports are criticized and suppressed

Scientists who uncover the truth about GMOs are criticized, silenced, set on fire, threatened and denied funding. Attempts by the media to bring the truth about the problem to the public are censored.

8) GMOs are bad for the environment

Genetically modified crops and their associated herbicides harm birds, insects, amphibians, marine life and organisms living underground. They reduce species diversity, pollute water and are not environmentally friendly. For example, GM crops have supplanted monarch butterflies, whose numbers have fallen by 50 percent in the US.

Herbicides have been shown to cause birth defects in amphibians, embryonic death, endocrine disruption, and organ damage in animals, even at very low doses. Genetically modified canola (a type of rapeseed) has spread into the wild in North Dakota and California, threatening to transfer herbicide resistance genes to other plants and weeds.

9) GMOs do not increase yields and cannot help fight hunger.

While sustainable, non-GMO agricultural practices used in developing countries have increased crop yields by 79 percent, GMO practices, on average, do not increase yields at all.

International Organization for the Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology Development, citing the opinion of 400 scientists and the support of 58 countries, reported that the yield of genetically modified crops is "highly variable" and in some cases even starting to decline. She also confirmed that with the help of GMOs it is currently impossible to fight hunger and poverty, improve nutrition, health and livelihoods in rural areas, protect the environment, and help social development.

GMOs use the tools and resources that could be used to develop and use other safer methods and more reliable technologies.

10) By avoiding GMO foods, you can do your part to help get rid of negative effects.

Since GMOs do not provide any benefit to the consumer, many may refuse them, therefore, it will become unprofitable to produce such products and companies will stop offering them. In Europe, for example, back in 1999 they announced the danger of GMOs, warning about the potential harm of these products.

11th grade student Tatiana Cherepennikova

research project

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Research project on the theme “GMOs: food of the future or harm to human health?

Completed by Tatyana Cherepennikova, a student of grade 11, the head teacher of biology, Guseva L.A.

Target: To study the content of GMOs in food and their impact on human health.

Object of study:genetically modified food.

Relevance: The development of society requires the introduction of new technologies into our lives. The production of genetically modified products is the most important achievement of modern science. It can bring benefits, but also great harm. Over the past years, the issue of transgenic products has become the most fashionable topic for discussion in the media. Perhaps these products will help eliminate the threat of hunger hanging over humanity,contain valuable nutrients that conventional products were in short supply, have a more attractive appearance and, finally, they are the source of the health of the economy.But it is also likely that the new "miracle of science" could cause a wave of environmental disasters, dangerous diseases and human mutations. In a decade, our generation will have to face the consequences of today's carelessness of people who, without even thinking about the danger, eat genetically modified soybeans, corn or potatoes.

Tasks:

1. To study theoretical material on the production and use of GMOs, the impact of GM foods on human health.
2. Conduct a sociological survey of the population.
3. Find out if GM organisms are grown in our area, whether they are used in the processing industry.
4. Analyze information on packaging material on the presence or absence of GMOs in food products of the Mikhailov chain of stores.
5. Find out how the control over the supervision of imported agricultural and food products is carried out.
6. Formulate conclusions and develop recommendations for those who want to avoid the use of genetically modified foods.
7. In order to inform schoolchildren on the issue under study, write an article in the school newspaper.

Hypothesis: We assume that genetically modified foods are harmful to human health.

Introduction

A GMO is a genetically modified organism, that is, an organism whose genotype has been modified in some way. This happens with the help of genetic engineering methods. One of the advantages of genetically modified foods is their increased yield.

The first transgenic plant was obtained in 1983 at the Institute of Plant Industry in Cologne. In 1992, China began growing transgenic tobacco resistant to insect pests. In 1994, the first genetically modified vegetable appeared on the shelves of American supermarkets - a tomato that is not afraid of transportation and keeps for a long time. marketable condition. In appearance, these tomatoes are ordinary: round, red, with lacquered skin, fleshy, with a small amount of moisture. They multiply at an extraordinary rate, resistant to low temperatures and diseases. Genetically engineered varieties yield four to five times more than conventional varieties.

The next miracle of bioengineering was the potato, which Russian gardeners simply dream of. The Colorado potato beetle cannot overcome it - the gene of a bacterium that produces a deadly poison for the pest is “embedded” in the potato genome: chitin dissolves in beetles, hard parts of the body become soft, and they die. However, scientists for some reason did not think about other insects landing on potatoes, and were surprised when moths, butterflies, ladybugs, and finally bees began to die on it. Behind them, birds will begin to die out, which will not have food. The biological chains that nature has been creating for billions of years will break.

More than 100 types of crops with transplanted “genes” are already being grown in the USA. Carrots have become sweeter, juicier and crispier, celery has been freed from components that irritate the taste. Corn synthesizes its own toxins to kill insect pests and corn borer larvae. Herbicide-resistant beets have been obtained in Canada. A gene from cabbage was transplanted into grapes, which increased its frost resistance.

The number of genetically modified foods is growing: in the US alone, 24 companies are engaged in their production on 92 million hectares. Data on the study of the effect of genetically modified products on the human body have not yet been published in the literature.
Today, more than 120 types of genetically modified plants have been developed: soybean, corn, rice, cotton, pumpkin, cucumber, pepper, melon ... Many of these crops are in industrial scale grown in the USA, Argentina, Canada, Australia, China, Mexico, Spain, France, South Africa, Portugal, Romania, Japan, India.

Producers are faced with the fact that the promotion of these crops to the market is hindered by the conservatism of buyers. Consumers are wary of the new miracle plants and are in no hurry to switch to "Frankenstein food" - this is how the products created as a result of gene manipulation have been dubbed.

Genetically modified foods used in food are the subject of heated debate. Currently, the generally accepted opinion is that GMO products do not pose a danger to the human body, but the opponents of this opinion have very strong arguments.

Opinion of supporters of GMOs.

Today, consumers are in the grip of fear about the transgenic threat. The press scares the townsfolk with “Frankenstein food”, “Chernobyl food products” and some kind of “fish tomato”; transgenic trees that release toxins and destroy all life around; superweeds, which do not care about herbicides and cold….. But at first we are afraid of everything and deny it, remember at least how 400 years ago the inhabitants of the Old World accepted corn, potatoes and tomatoes brought from overseas - they were called “demonic food”.

GMF and their use in food may in the future affect the social and economic spheres of human life. The world's population is growing rapidly. According to the UN, in the next 35 years it will increase to 10 billion people. The current rate of growth in food production lags behind the rate of population growth. Therefore, only the widespread use of transgenic products gives hope for overcoming hunger on the planet. The yield of transgenic plants is 15–20% higher than that of traditional crops, because transgenic plants have increased resistance to pests and diseases. At the same time, no decrease in the nutritional value of the products obtained from them is observed. It is clear that the yield of potatoes that are not damaged by the Colorado potato beetle will be higher. Transgenic plants will allow more efficient use of agricultural land (it is simply impossible to even triple the amount of traditional food on existing areas), in addition, they contain the qualities necessary for growing in areas with unstable weather conditions.

Increased yield modified plants will reduce the use of mineral fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, insecticides that adversely affect the human body. This means that GMF is more useful than traditional products. Many GMPs have more high content vitamins, valuable nutrients. Transgenic products are the source healthy eating. Now low-calorie soy is received. From transgenic varieties of corn, soybeans and rapeseed, vegetable oil is obtained, in which the amount of vegetable fats, while potatoes and corn have more starch and less water. Improved tomatoes, pumpkins and potatoes better retain vitamins C, A and b-carotene. For countries where rice is the main source of nutrition, its variety with high content vitamins and microelements. It now contains vitamin A and iron, which will save people from many diseases associated with their lack.
And, finally, the nutrition of the GMP is safe, because. foreign DNA in the human body always breaks down to mononucleotides and is digested, and therefore cannot be integrated into the human genome.

In addition, GMOs are widely used in medicine. So, back in 1982, genetically modified bacteria were used in the production of human insulin. Doctors hope that in the near future geneticists will be able to develop drugs for such dangerous diseases as HIV, bird and swine flu, and so on. It is assumed that GMOs will contribute to the fight against aging. Genetically modified bacteria are being developed that will be able to produce environmentally friendly fuel, and genetically modified trees produce several times more wood.

GMPs are already quickly paying off and bring great benefits. Now in the world 150 million hectares are occupied by transgenic crops (TGC), of which 66% are in the USA, 22% in Argentina. THC yields are 15–25% higher than those of traditional crops, which means that their cost is lower. Firms involved in obtaining such plants have a capital of about 700 billion dollars. Agriculture is becoming self-sustaining. The consumption of GMP is constantly growing. Bulk purchases of such products significantly reduce.

The advantages of using GMF are obvious. Proponents of transgenic products in Russia (the Institute of Nutrition of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Bioengineering Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences) claim that foreign DNA and genes get to us with food every day. But once they enter the body with food, they cannot integrate into the human genotype, and there is not a single proven case of GMF harm.

Opinion opponents of GMOs.

Genetic engineering is a very young science, therefore, methods for determining the safety of a particular product are still imperfect. The very mechanism of creating genetically modified organisms is not yet fully controlled. These products are a ticking time bomb. They appeared 15 years ago, and their safety for humans has not yet been proven. There are no convincing arguments and improvement of their nutritional properties.

There is evidence that transgenic plants have made insects more resistant to chemicals, and much more is required. Given the unpredictable behavior of THC, there is no general reduction in the amount of chemicals used in the fields..
The cultivation of THC can disrupt the biological diversity of regions, displacing familiar species from the habitat, as was the case with transgenic rapeseed.
It is not known how the seeds of transgenic plants carried by birds over long distances will behave in other biocenoses. The transfer of modified plant genes into weed chromosomes can lead to the emergence of new organisms with unpredictable, including potentially dangerous, properties. Thus, the transfer of pollen by pollinating insects from transgenic to conventional plants can lead to the emergence of superweeds, as was the case with transgenic oats, the cultivation of which led to the reproduction of wild mustard.

Eating GMP can lead to side effects:

1. the appearance of allergic reactions, moreover, not at all harmless. For example, in the United States, where GM foods are freely consumed, about 70% of the population suffers from allergies. In Sweden, where such products are banned, only 7%. Hardly a coincidence;
2. violation of the structure of the gastric mucosa, the appearance of antibiotic-resistant intestinal microflora.
3. a decrease in the immunity of the whole organism (70% of human immunity is in the intestines), as well asmetabolic disorder.
4. GMO foods can cause cancer. Transgenes tend to integrate into the gene apparatus of intestinal microorganisms, and this is already a mutation. As you know, it is cell mutations that lead to the development of cancer cells.

There are other facts about the negative impact of GM organisms:

1. Experimental mice fed GMF gave small offspring with weakened immunity and a tendency to degenerateIn Russia, the research of Irina Ermakova from the Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology of the Russian Academy of Sciences caused a great resonance - she studied the health effects of one of the varieties of genetically modified soybeans on the health of rats and their offspring. According to Ermakova, the introduction of this variety of soybean into the diet of rats led to a number of negative physiological effects.
2. British scientists have found that the larger the area occupied by THC, the less insects become and, as a result, the number of birds and other animals is reduced, which leads to an imbalance in the ecological balance.
3. It has been proven that many insects (butterflies, ladybugs, moths, bees) began to die by eating transgenic potatoes.

Therefore, each GMF and the consequences of its long-term use must be carefully studied. However, all GMF tests conducted were short-term, and a negative impact on a person or his offspring can also manifest itself through long time. It is too early to talk about a significant reduction in government costs when using GMF, because it is not yet known how much money will be needed to restore possible violations of biocenoses that nature has created for millions of years.

In December 2010, the international environmental organizations Greenpeace and Avaaz collected a million signatures on a petition to the European Commission demanding a ban on the cultivation of genetically modified organisms in the European Union until new studies on their effect on the human body are carried out.

Attitude towards GMOs in the world.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair tried to convince his compatriots of the safety of transgenic food by personal example, this caused a wave of indignation in the media.

Former US President B. Clinton believes: "... GMO plants are the way to a new agro-industrial revolution, agribusiness, which is the wave of the future, a huge (and growing) multi-billion dollar industry."

The incumbent US President Barack Obama during the election campaign promised compulsory labeling of GMO products, but after becoming president, he did not keep his promise.

In 2007, the President of France, President of the Council of the European Union (01.07.2008-01.01.2009) Nicolas Sarkozy introduced a temporary moratorium in France on the cultivation of genetically modified GM crops,which was later cancelled.

According to CharlesPrince of Wales Wow:

“If the creators of genetically modified crops believe that everything will somehow resolve itself, thanks to new genetic developments, all this is guaranteed to lead to the biggest environmental disaster of all time”, V.V. Putin agrees with him: “... I know that our technologies may not always be as effective as in the West, but they are much more sparing in terms of consumer health than Western technologies. We practically do not use genetic engineering. And now we know how many problems there are with this ”(From the transcript of the live broadcast dated December 18, 2003).

And here is the opinion of the President of Russia D. Medvedev: “I like good cuisine. This is our cuisine, which is well prepared. And Japanese food can be delicious, European food can be tasty, the main thing is that it be done with high quality. To have good products, not genetically modified ones.”

On October 11, 2010, at a meeting of the International Agribusiness Club in Moscow, the chief sanitary doctor of Russia and the head of Rospotrebnadzor, Gennady Onishchenko, called genetically modified products a boon for Russia: biotechnologies make it possible to change living organisms in a very short time in a way that is beneficial to humans. In addition, about 40% of meat per Russian market- import, and in the South and North America farm animals are fattened with genetically modified soybeans. Finally, "science still cannot be stopped." At the same time, the head of Rospotrebnadzor admitted that the modification of the genetic nature of an organism can occur not only for the benefit of a person, but also for harm, therefore it is important to ensure adequate control over the properties of GMOs.

Rallies and demonstrations are regularly held in countries around the world forproducts free from genetically modified organisms,with the requirement of compulsory labeling of products containing GMOs. In 2011, similar demonstrations took place in Brussels, New York, and Poland. Bulgaria.

Greenpeace position

1. It is necessary to label all food products derived from transgenic plants, including feed, vegetable oils, finished products and imported raw materials;
2. impose a moratorium on the use of genetically modified ingredients in baby food until their biosafety is proven;
3. establish a moratorium on the industrial cultivation of GM plants in open systems to prevent negative impact on the environment;
4. Broad coverage of all the problems associated with the cultivation and use of GMOs is needed.

Sociological survey data

Survey All-Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinioncommissioned by Greenpeace in 2009 showed that

1. more than 78% of Russians surveyed consider it unacceptable to use transgenes in food,
2. 14% know nothing at all about genetic engineering products,
3. only 8% of respondents do not see anything dangerous in this.

The greatest concern of the population is the use of transgenes in baby food. Among the well-informed respondents in this matter, 90% consider it necessary to introduce a moratorium on the presence of such products on the Russian market.

We conducted a sociological survey among residents of the city of Mikhailov.

It was attended by 30 women and 24 men

Know - 64, do not know -36%

1. Are you worried about your health and your loved ones in connection with the use of such products?

83% are worried about the health of their children and grandchildren, 12% are worried about their own health, 5% consider this problem far-fetched.

1. Do you pay attention to labels containing information about the presence or absence of GMO components?

7.2% - convert, 82.8% - no.

1. Are you ready to buy such products?

Yes, if they are cheaper - 17%, yes, if they are tastier - 4%, yes, if it is proven that they are not harmful to health -44%, no -35%.

Also, 52 students of grades 10-11 of MSOS №1 took part in the sociological survey.

1. Do you know what GMOs, GM foods are?

69% know, 31% don't know.

1. Can this food be dangerous to health?

Maybe -62%, this problem is far-fetched - 38%.

1. What food, transgenic or not, do you buy and eat?

GM-modified, as it is sold in our stores - 27%, we sell non-transgenic products 73%.

1. Did you know that McDonald's fast food chains use GM foods?

Yes -59%, no 41%.

1. How often do you visit such establishments?

Always, if we have such an opportunity - 89%, rarely - 21%.

Annex 1

Classification of products containing GMOs.

The Russian Federation does not produce products containing GMOs, but, according to federal law, it is possible to import such products. In particular, at present, the import of 14 types of products containing GMOs into the territory of the Russian Federation is allowed: 6 lines of corn, 3 lines of soybeans, potatoes, one line of sugar beet and rice.Modifiedvarieties of soybeans, corn, potatoes are widely used in the production of products - milk formulas, cereal cereals, canned meat and vegetables, bakery and confectionery products.

In general, foods containing GMOs can be divided into three categories:

1. Products containing GM ingredients (mainly transgenic corn and soybeans). These additives are introduced into food products as structuring, sweetening, coloring agents, and also as substances that increase the protein content.
2. Transgenic raw material processing products (for example, bean curd, soy milk, chips, corn flakes, tomato paste).
3. Transgenic vegetables and fruits, and soon, possibly, animals for direct consumption.

Data on the use of GM organisms in the Mikhailovsky district in agriculture and processing industry.

Despite the currently unproven safety of the use of GMOs for humans and nature, the area of ​​world agricultural land occupied by transgenic crops is increasing at a fantastic rate.

We decided to find out if GM organisms are grown in our region. With this question, they turned to the Agricultural Department of the Mikhailovsky District. The head of this department, Shevyakov Vladimir Sergeevich, explained that genetically modified seeds are not used in the region, all manufactured products do not contain GMI.

We also visited Mikhailkhleboprodukty OJSC, where we met with the production director Vladimir Efimovich Tarabrin and the head of the production and technical laboratory Mytareva Antonina Pavlovna. They said that they use raw materials from the Mikhailovsky district, other districts of the region, as well as neighboring regions of Tula, Tambov, Moscow. All grain is not genetically modified, which is a very important indicator for consumers of their products. Once a year JSC "Mikhailovkhleboprodukty" analyzes its products for the presence of GMOs in the Ryazan branch of Rospotrebnadzor and has the appropriate certificates.

Valery Alekseevich Mamonov, a specialist of the Territorial Department of the Rospotrebnadzor for the Ryazan Region in the Starozhilovsky District, explained that they control the products manufactured by Mikhailovkhleboprodukty OJSC, as well as other enterprises in the region that produce food products: Mikhailovsky Dairy Plant OJSC, the workshop of the Mikhailovsky District Consumer Union, the Mikhailovsky Meat Processing Plant .

Basic requirements for the labeling of GM products.

There are different approaches to the labeling of foods derived from GMOs around the world. In the USA, Canada, Argentina, these products are not labeled, in the EEC countries a 0.9% threshold level is adopted, in the countries of Japan, Australia - 5%. At the same time, the introduction of a threshold level of GMO content, at which it is necessary to label food products, is not related to the issue of their safety, but aims to inform the public about the use of food production technology.

Adopted in 2004Federal Law No. 171-FZ "On Amendments to the Law of the Russian Federation "On Protection of Consumer Rights". Along with other requirements, it establishes additional requirements for information on GM products. According to this law, "information about the presence in food products of components obtained with the use of genetically modified organisms" must be applied on the product label without fail.

On December 12, 2007, the Federal Law “On Protection of Consumer Rights” came into force, which introduced an addition on the mandatory availability of information on the presence of components obtained from GMOs in relation to food products, if the content of these organisms in such a component is more than 0.9%. The content in food products of less than 0.9% GMO exempts them from special labeling.

Compliance with labeling rules

In Moscow, the results of inspections of the capital market of meat processing products for the presence of GMOs were made public. The study was commissioned by the All-Russian Association for Genetic Safety (OAGB) in an accredited laboratory of MAK-O LLC together with the International Social and Ecological Union.
Laboratory experts tested the products of the eight largest producers of meat and sausage products: meat processing plants "Ostankinsky", "Mikoyanovsky", "Tsaritsyno", "KampoMos", "Velkom", "Cherkizovsky", "Klinsky", as well as Dymovsky sausage production. In the product samples of four manufacturers, the examination showed the presence of GMOs: Ostankinsky, Mikoyanovsky, Tsaritsyno, CampoMos. “We are discouraged by the fact that GMOs were found in the products of the Ostankino plant, which bears the sign \"genetically safe product\", implying the absence of GM components. This is a direct violation of consumer rights, and such manufacturers will lose their trust very quickly,” comments Victoria Kopeikina, coordinator of the International Social and Ecological Union's For Biosafety Program.

Greenpeace Russia released the country's first consumer guide "How to choose products without transgenes?". The guide is compiled on the basis of information received from manufacturing companies on the content of genetically modified ingredients (GMI) in their products. Greenpeace also conducted random checks in specialized laboratories.

The results of our analysis information on the packaging material about the presence or absence of GMOs

After analyzing the above and other data, we found that manufacturers do not always label products containing GMOs and decided to study the inscriptions on the food product packaging on the shelves of the Dixy and Magnit supermarkets in Mikhailov. The study found out:

1. No products labeled "Contains GMOs" have been found.
2. The inscription "Does not contain GMOs" was found on the packages of 17 products from 38 companies and manufacturers.
3. Most products contain additives under the index E.

Annex 2

Data on the implementation of control over the supervision of imported food products

A specialist in the field of food and food safety of the Territorial Department of the Rospotrebnadzor for the Ryazan region in the Starozhilovsky district Valery Alekseevich Mamonov explained that, according to the Decree of the Chief State Sanitary Doctor of the Russian Federation No. schedule, food samples are monitored for the presence of GMOs in the retail outlets of the district. He acquainted us with the acts of inspections carried out in 2011: in samples of ketchups, sausages, canned meat, which contain soy, starch, the presence of GMOs does not exceed 0.9% or is completely absent.

Annex 3

What you need to remember a person in search of a healthy diet.

1. When choosing products, pay attention to the label. If there is a designation "GMI" or "GM", then this means that the product contains transgenic components.
2. If the content of GMOs in the product does not exceed 0.9%, the manufacturing company can put the “GMO-Free” badge on its product. This marking is voluntary.
3. From labels, you can indirectly determine the likelihood of a GMO content in a product:

1. if the label says that the product is made in the USA and contains soy, corn, rapeseed or potatoes, there is a very good chance that it contains GM components;
2. if the proud inscription "vegetable protein" is on the label, it is most likely soybean and very likely transgenic;
3. often GMOs can be hidden behind E indices. However, this does not mean that all E supplements contain GMOs or are transgenic. You just need to know which E can, in principle, contain GMOs or their derivatives.

Applications 4.5
Conclusion

Genetically modified organisms are real proof of the superiority of man over nature. The ability to obtain organisms that do not occur in nature, with a set of genes chosen at the whim of man, allows scientists to conduct the actual evolution of plants and animals in laboratory conditions. Along with a whole range of advantages that GMOs have (high yield, frost and drought resistance, resistance to pests and herbicides), there are also a number of problems that have not been resolved at the moment: the lack of a clear legal framework regulating the control of the distribution of GMOs, systems for assessing the safety of GMOs , the impossibility of determining the consequences of the spread of GMOs for nature and humans, and at the same time, the presence of GMOs in the food we consume daily is not declared by manufacturers.

The GMF problem does not have a single solution. The ancient philosophers said: "There are two completely opposite opinions about every thing." We are convinced of this, it is up to us to decide: to eat or not to eat genetically modified products, whether they are good or bad.

German philosopher F. Engelsin "The Dialectic of Nature" he warned "... not to be too deceived by our victories over nature. For each such she takes revenge on us. Each of these victories, it is true, first of all has the consequences that we expected, but secondly and thirdly, completely different, unforeseen consequences, which very often destroy the consequences of the first.

Conclusion

The main question is whether genetically modified foods are safe for humans, so far unanswered, since there is no reliable information about the consequences of their use, but their negative effect on experimental animals has been noticed. Thus, the proposed hypothesis was not fully confirmed. However, most people are apprehensive about transgenic products, so we considerthe widespread use of GMFs until their safety is proven is unacceptable. Andeach consumer must be informed about the availability of GMO products for sale and independently make a decision on their purchase.

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)are organisms in which artificial way genetic material was added from other animal organisms to obtain improved characteristics of the original organism (calorie content, resistance to pests, diseases, weather, accelerated maturation, more long-term storage, high fertility), which reduces the cost of products.

Drought tolerant wheat with the scorpion gene. A potato with the gene of an earthen bacterium that even kills Colorado beetles. Tomatoes with the genome of the sea flounder. Soy and strawberries with bacterial genes. This is probably a great salvation, in the face of an ever-growing population and other economic problems.

On this moment There are studies showing that frequent use GMOs can lead to serious problems. According to some studies transgenes can linger in the body and integrate into the genetic apparatus of human intestinal microorganisms.

In addition, it has been observed that the cultivation of transgenic soybeans leads to genetic mutations companion plants that become immune to the effects of herbicides. It is also assumed that living organisms that feed on genetically modified plants can mutate.

GMO products.

Grocery list, which may contain GMO:

1. Soy and its products (beans, sprouts, concentrate, flour, milk, etc.).
2. Corn and its products (popcorn, flour, chips, cereals, butter, starch, syrups, and so on).
3. Potato and its products (chips, semi-finished products, crackers, dry mashed potatoes, flour, and so on).
4. Tomatoes and its products (tomato paste, puree, sauce, ketchup, and so on).
5. Zucchini and products from them.
6. Sugar beet, table beet, sugar from sugar beet.
7. Wheat and wheat products, including bread and bakery products.
8. Sunflower oil.
9. Rice and products containing it (flakes, flour, granules, chips).
10. Carrots and products with it.
11. Onions, shallots, leeks and other bulbous vegetables.

And, of course, there is a chance to find GMOs in products that are made using these plants.

The most frequently genetically modified are soybeans, rapeseed, corn, sunflowers, potatoes, strawberries, tomatoes, zucchini, paprika, and lettuce. Genetically modified soy is included in bread, biscuits, baby food, margarine, soup, pizza, fast food, meat products, flour, sweets, ice cream, chips, chocolate, sauces, soy milk and so on. Genetically modified corn (maize) most often in products fast food, soups, sauces, condiments, chips, chewing gum, cake mixes. Genetically modified starch is added to a very wide range of products, including yoghurts. You should also know that 70% of well-known baby food companies contain GMOs. Approximately 30% of tea and coffee is genetically modified. Most products from America or other foreign countries, which include soy, corn, rapeseed or potatoes, have GM components. If the product contains vegetable protein, then you can be almost sure that there is also genetically modified soy.

In addition, insulin, vitamins, antiviral vaccines may also contain genetically modified organisms.

Below is a list of some of the organizations that supply genetically modified raw materials to Russia or are themselves producers of:

• Central Soya Protein Group, Denmark;
• OOO "BIOSTAR TRADE", St. Petersburg;
• CJSC "Universal", Nizhny Novgorod;
• "Monsanto Co", USA;
• "Protein Technologies International Moscow", Moscow;
• LLC "Agenda", Moscow
• CJSC "ADM-Food Products", Moscow
• JSC "GALA", Moscow;
• CJSC "Belok", Moscow;
• Dera Food Technology N.V., Moscow;
• "Herbalife International of America", USA;
• "OY FINNSOYPRO LTD", Finland;
• LLC "Salon Sport-Service", Moscow;
• "Intersoy", Moscow.

Below is a list of organizations that apply GMOs in production:

• Kelloggs (Kelloggs) - breakfast cereals, corn flakes,
• Nestle (Nestle) - chocolate, coffee, coffee drinks, baby food,
• Heinz Foods (Heyents Fuds) - ketchups, sauces,
• Hersheys (Hershis) - chocolate, soft drinks,
• Coca-Cola (Coca-Cola) - Coca-Cola, Sprite, Fanta, Kinley tonic,
• McDonalds (McDonald's),
• Danon (Danone) - yogurts, kefir, cottage cheese, baby food,
• Similac (Similak) - baby food,
• Cadbury (Cadbury) - chocolate, cocoa,
• Mars (Mars) - chocolate Mars, Snickers, Twix,
• PepsiCo (Pepsi-Cola) - Pepsi, Mirinda, 7-Up,
• Daria - meat products,
• Campamos - meat products,
• Korona - meat products,
• Mikoyanovsky - meat products,
• Tsaritsyno - meat products,
• Lianozovsky - meat and dairy products,
• Volzhsky PK - meat products.

GMOs are often masked indices E. But this does not mean that all additives E contain GMOs. You just need to understand which E supplements can contain GMOs.

These additives are primarily soy lecithin or lecithin E 322: used as a fatty element in milk mixtures, cookies, chocolate; riboflavin (B2) or E 101 and E 101A. It is added to cereals, soft drinks, baby food and weight loss products. Caramel (E 150) and xanthan (E 415) can also be made from GM grains. Often, the names of additives are written in words on packages.

• E101 and E101A (B2, riboflavin)
• E150 (caramel);
• E153 (carbonate);
• E160a (beta-carotene, provitamin A, retinol);
• E160b (annatto);
• E160d (lycopene);
• E234 (lowlands);
• E235 (natamycin);
• E270 (lactic acid);
• E300 (vitamin C - ascorbic acid);
• E301 - E304 (ascorbates);
• E306 - E309 (tocopherol / vitamin E);
• E320 (VHA);
• E321 (VNT);
• E322 (lecithin);
• E325 - E327 (lactates);
• E330 (citric acid);
• E415 (xanthine);
• E459 (beta-cyclodextrin);
• E460 -E469 (cellulose);
• E470 and E570 (salts and fatty acids);
• fatty acid esters (E471, E472a&b, E473, E475, E476, E479b);
• E481 (sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate);
• E620 - E633 (glutamic acid and glutomates);
• E626 - E629 (guanilic acid and guanilates);
• E630 - E633 (inosinic acid and inosinates);
• E951 (aspartame);
• E953 (isomaltite);
• E957 (thaumatin);
• E965 (maltinol).

Taste and smell genetically modified products does not differ from natural. But, products that are not spoiled, not damaged by insects, too beautiful products can arouse suspicion.

Since seeds are also modified, it is impossible to be sure of the naturalness of products on the markets.