Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) Magna Wellness Team

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1 Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) Magna Wellness Team

2 Pop Quiz! What is a GMO?

3 Pop Quiz! What is a GMO? A Genetically Modified Organism What does that mean? An organism, such as a plant, animal or bacterium, is considered genetically modified if its genetic material has been altered through any method, including conventional breeding.

4 Pop Quiz! What percentage of processed foods in Canada contain GM ingredients? A) 100% B) 10% C) 70% D) 50%

5 Overview Today: GMOs, what are they? Why are they used? Where are they? Should you be worried? What are they doing? Are they for you? Where are they not?

6 Can You Guess?

7 Can You Guess? Teosinte, corn's wild ancestor! It is a grass, and although it doesn't look much like the kernels of our modern day corn, at the DNA level, the two are surprisingly alike.

8 Evolution of Corn a) Teosinte b) Hybrid of teosinte and maize c) Today s hybrid maize d) Genetically modified sweet corn

9 Plant Breeding Traditional: With this method MANY genes are transferred with the desired gene Wanted and unwanted characteristics Genetic Engineering: ONLY the desired gene is transferred to the genome ONLY wanted characteristics

10 Types of GMOs Microbe Bacteria, Yeast, Fungi Animal Mammals, Fish, Insects Plant Corn, Tomato, Soy

11 Strange Science

12 Why Modify Food? Resistance to pests and disease Herbicide tolerance Tolerance to environmental conditions Reduced pesticide use Increased crop yields Improved taste and quality Altered nutrient levels Ease world hunger

13 Labeling Regulations Health Canada does not require that foods containing GMOs be labelled in Canada The U.S. and Mexico have also not made it mandatory to label GM foods and food ingredients Voluntary labelling is permitted for information not related to health and safety

14 Pop Quiz! What are the 8 GM crops grown in and exported to Canada?

15 Where Are They? GM Crops Grown in Canada Crop Trait Where on the Shelves Corn Insect resistant herbicide tolerant Canola Herbicide tolerant Canola oil Eggs, milk, and meat Corn Flakes Corn Chips Cornstarch Corn Syrup Eggs, milk, and meat Some Sweetcorn Soy Herbicide tolerant Soy oil Soy protein Soy lecithin Tofu Soy beverages Soy puddings Eggs, milk, and meat Sugar Beet Herbicide tolerant Sugar GM Crops Imported in Canada Crop Grown Where can you find it? Cottonseed oil U.S Cottonseed oil Vegetable oil in processed foods (e.g. potato chips) Papaya U.S (Hawaii) Papaya (e.g. fruit juices and processed foods) Squash U.S Some zucchini Yellow crookneck and straight neck squash Milk products U.S Milk solids and powder Frozen deserts with dairy Imported mixed drinks with milk ingredients

16 Where Are They? To date, 50 varieties of 12 GE crops and foods have been approved by Health Canada and the FIA under Novel Foods Many GE crop varieties that are approved are not on the market for human consumption Examples: potatoes, tomatoes, salmon

17 GMO A Go Go!

18 The Million Dollar Question! Should you be worried about consuming GM foods?

19 What Are They Doing? Environmental Concerns: Genetic and biological pollution contamination of non-engineered crops and other species Superweeds creation of herbicide-resistant weeds Superbugs insects develop a resistance to the insecticide

20 What Are They Doing? Environmental Concerns: Increased chemical use more harsh chemicals have to be engineered to combat the pesticide-resistance Harm to wildlife and beneficial insects crops that produce pesticides, or unexpected changes, can unintentionally affect non-target plants and animals

21 What Are They Doing? Human Health Concerns: Toxicity playing food safety roulette Allergens the transfer of allergens or creation of new allergic reactions from proteins Antibiotic resistance disease-causing bacteria develop a resistance to antibiotics from antibiotic resistance markers

22 What Are They Doing? Human Health Concerns: Immunosuppression the toxins designed to kill pests may destroy gut flora Cancer potential that recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone increases IGF-1 blood levels Loss of nutrition undesirable alterations in the level of nutrients

23 What Are They Doing? Other Concerns: Economic impact on farmers genetic engineering companies have a patent on GM seeds, and own the pesticide companies Ethically wrong playing God

24 Are They For You? Something you have to decide for yourself!

25 Where Are They Not? Ways To Avoid GMOs: Choose certified organic foods, grass fed animal products, & wild caught fish products Eat foods verified as Non- GMO Avoid at risk foods and food ingredients Buy directly from non-gmo farmers Grow your own garden

26 Non-GMO Project Mission of protecting the non-gmo food supply and giving customers an informed choice Strategy: If people stop buying GMOs, companies will stop using them, farmers will stop growing them They maintain a searchable database of food and products that are verified to be non-gmo

27 Where Can You Buy Non-GMO? Whole Foods Market and 365 Brands Farms: Wanigan (Brampton), Fresh From The Farm (Toronto) Farmers Markets: St. Lawrence Market (Toronto) Organic Food Delivery Company - Green Earth Organics: - Mama Earth Organics: - Wanigan:

28 Brought to You by: The Magna Wellness Team 375 Magna Drive, Aurora, ON, L4G 7L6 Work Fax