Genetically Modified and Irradiated Food: Controversial Issues: Facts versus Perceptions

Description

Genetically Modified and Irradiated Food: Controversial Issues: Facts versus Perceptions explains the technologies used in these processes so they can be understood by those in general public health, scientific organizations, politicians and opinion makers/policymakers. The facts presented include a massive amount of scientific evidence that these technologies are safe and can be beneficial. Because the world is facing a future with an increasing number of people, new technologies are needed to ensure enough safe and healthy food, thus technologies that have the potential to dramatically increase the availability of safe and healthy food should be welcomed by everybody. Cover Genetically Modified and Irradiated Food: Controversial Issues: Facts versus Perceptions Copyright Contributors Introduction References Part 1: Genetically modified food 1. Why is genetic modification of interest or why can it be useful? Concluding remarks References Further reading 2. A perspective on the evolution of genetic manipulation of biological materials, both plant and animal Religious viewpoints References 3. How are genes modified? Crossbreeding, mutagenesis, and CRISPR-Cas9 Introduction The microbial origin of CRISPR-Cas9 Programmable DNA cleavage Specificity Repairing the cut Plant transformation Conclusion References 4. Can genetic modification go wrong, and what if it does? Images of genetic modification going wrong Modification and food safety Environmental concerns Summary References 5. GM food and human health Introduction Evidence on safety GM foods likely to be eaten directly by consumers Fruits and vegetables Cereal crops Oilseed crops Allergenicity and toxicity Fate of GM proteins in the gastrointestinal tract and absorption into bodily tissues Chemical residues Microorganisms GM animals Foods derived from animals fed diets containing GM feedstuffs Consensus on safety Health benefits of GM crops Addressing consumer concerns Conclusions References Further reading Case studies 6.1. Genetically modified (GM) food in South Africa Contextualizing the two-decades-old debate on GM foods Genetically modified organism science Genetics and genetic modification Why do we want to use GM technology? Genetically modified organism regulation and sustainable use in South Africa Why are genetically modified organisms regulated? How are genetically modified organisms regulated in South Africa? The top five facts about South Africa's regulatory framework for genetically modified organisms Genetically modified organism sustainability Sustainability as the minimum standard for genetically modified organism use Risk in context Risk analysis as basis for sound decision-making Local and international experience with genetically modified organism use The local perspective The international perspective Conclusion References Further reading 6.2. Genetically modified bananas for communities of the great lakes region of Africa Introduction Using biotechnology for development of banana with pest and disease resistance Using biotechnology to address human nutritional deficiencies The genetically modified development pipeline Genes and their safety Biodiversity and environmental safety No unintended effects on nontarget organisms Economics and trade implications Partnerships, ownership, patents, and access Regulatory aspects Conclusion References 6.3. Trends in genetically modified crops development in Nigeria: issues and challenges Introduction Biotechnology, genetic engineering, and genetically modified foods Mutation breeding Nigeria as a case study Status of the genetically modified foods in Nigeria Genetic modification of crops by induced mutation Issues and challenges of GMFs in Nigeria Economic and ethics Health and environmental safety concerns The politics of GMOs/GMFs in Nigeria Intervention and outlook Conclusion References 6.4. GMOs in Argentina Introduction The Argentine case The phase of adoption. Science-based regulatory framework The trade-dependent phase. Not science-based requirements enter in the regulations A University–Industry collaboration emerges Revisiting the regulatory framework The genetically modified organisms debate The complexity Pseudoscience and false science and how the peer-review system works a. Bt corn is harmful to monarch butterfly a. Bt corn is harmful to monarch butterfly b. Antibiotic resistance genes inserted in GM plants can be acquired by bacterial pathogens through the “horizontal gene tr ... b. Antibiotic resistance genes inserted in GM plants can be acquired by bacterial pathogens through the “horizontal gene tr ... c. Consumption of GMO-derived food will cause allergy c. Consumption of GMO-derived food will cause allergy d. Long-term effects I (the role of risk assessment) d. Long-term effects I (the role of risk assessment) Long-term effects II (biodiversity) Long-term effects II (biodiversity) Scientific literacy is not enough. Natural science is not the only issue Lessons learned On regulations On the genetically modified organism debate References 6.5. Controversial issues: Brazil case studies Introduction Anatomy of the controversy Development of Brazilian legislation and the controversy Research impact on GM development in Brazil: private and public contributions Public perception Public perception and the GM bean case study Controversy on commercialization of GM bean Final remarks References 7. GM crops and conventional or organic agriculture coexistence in EU regulation From coexistence to GM definition From GM crops regulation to coexistence measures Another conception for crops coexistence: local governance The end of the debate on coexistence? References 8. The impact of GM crops on agriculture Introduction The economic impact of GM crops and their traits for farmers and consumers Impact of GM crops on farming practice Impact of GM varieties on crop genetic diversity Impact on biodiversity of noncrop species Impact of GMs on food production, marketing, and distribution of agricultural products Impact of GMs in Europe, a special case Concluding comments Prospects: the impact of gene editing References Part 2: Irradiated food 9. What is the benefit of irradiation compared to other methods of food preservation? Introduction Pasteurization and sterilization Thermal Nonthermal Chemical Irradiation Insect disinfestation Thermal Nonthermal Chemical Irradiation Inhibition of sprouting Chemical Irradiation Conclusion References 10. Irradiation kills microbes: can it do anything harmful to the food? Introduction Current status of food irradiation in the world Irradiation for food safety and quality Future of food irradiation Conclusions References 11. Can irradiated food have an influence on people's health? Introduction History of concerns about food irradiation Safety issues of food irradiation technologies Do current regulations guarantee our safety? How did fear of radiation affect public perception about food irradiation? Why are not irradiated foods a real health concern? Summary References Further reading 12. Safety of irradiated food Background History of food irradiation Present situation Safety of food irradiation Appropriate irradiation dose Attitudes of consumers to irradiated food Overall conclusion Perspectives References Further reading 13. Novel processing technologies: facts about irradiation and other technologies Introduction Resistance to “new” technology Risk versus benefits Food irradiation What is food irradiation? Why irradiate food? How is food irradiated? Safety of irradiated foods Labeling of irradiated food Consumer acceptance of irradiated food Organizations that support irradiation Food safety Insect control Availability and acceptance of irradiated foods Resistance to “new” technologies Pasteurization Antivaccination movement Antichlorination movement World's safest food supply; safe enough? Irradiation: a powerful tool to make food safer Consumer acceptance of foods that have been irradiated Future directions Barriers to acceptance Conclusions Defining moments in food safety References 14. Conclusions Recommended literature Index A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Z Back Cover