Genetic Modification and Food Quality A Down to Earth Analysis

About this book

The development of recombinant DNA methods has changed the face of the food industry over the last 50 years. Crops which have been genetically modified are being cultivated in more and more countries and this process is likely to accelerate as desirable traits are identified and transferred to appropriate organisms, and they are cleared by the regulatory authorities. However, the technique has its critics who claim that modification of the genome of the plant (or animal) in this way may pose unknown and unacceptable risks to the human consumer.

Genetic Modification and Food Quality: A Down to Earth Analysis is the first comprehensive text on how GM production methods influence the quality of foods and feeds, based on a complete and unbiased assessment of the scientific findings. It presents a balanced analysis of the benefits and drawbacks of gene-modified food sources in the human diet. Chapters approach the topic with regard to different food types such as cereal grains, oilseed crops, vegetables, fish and animal products.

Assessing the nutritive value as well as the health and safety of GMO foods, Genetic Modification and Food Quality: A Down to Earth Analysis is a reference for anyone working in the food production industry and will also be of an interest to NGOs, trade associations and consumers who are looking for an objective, balanced study of this contentious issue.

Contents

Concise table of contents:

CHAPTER 1: Introduction
CHAPTER 2: International regulations
CHAPTER 3: Microorganisms
CHAPTER 4: Cereals
CHAPTER 5: Oilseed crops
CHAPTER 6: Fruits and vegetables
CHAPTER 7: Fish and other animals
CHAPTER 8: Animal products
CHAPTER 9: Overall assessment of the safety of GM foods and feeds
CHAPTER 10: Overall assessment of the nutritional value of GM foods and feeds
CHAPTER 11: Addressing consumer issues
CHAPTER 12: Overall conclusions


Detailed table of contents:

CHAPTER 1: Introduction
References

CHAPTER 2: International regulations
North America
USA
Canada
Europe
Russia
Australasia
Australia/New Zealand
China
India
Japan
Republic of Korea
Mexico
Africa
South Africa
South America
Argentina
Brazil
Chile
Food labelling
Australia/New Zealand
Canada
Europe
Japan
Russia
USA
References

CHAPTER 3: Microorganisms
Bacteria
Biochemicals, additives
Milk Products, probiotics
Fungi
Yeasts
Baking
Brewing (beer-making)
Wine-making
Cheese-making
Summary
References

CHAPTER 4: Cereals
Maize (Zea mays L.)
Safety aspects
Nutritional and organoleptic qualities
Other cereal crops
Rice (Oryza sativa)
Wheat (Triticum aestivum)
Summary
References

CHAPTER 5: Oilseed crops
Soyabeans (soybeans)
Safety aspects
Nutritional and organoleptic qualities
Canola (rapeseed)
Safety aspects
Nutritional and organoleptic qualities
Cottonseed (Gossypium hirsutum L.)
Safety aspects
Nutritional and organoleptic qualities
Summary
References

CHAPTER 6: Fruits and vegetables
Fruit
Cantaloupe (Cucumis melo)
Papaya (Carica papaya L.)
Apples (Malus domestica)
Plums (Prunus domestica L.)
Vegetables
Lucerne (alfalfa) (Medicago sativa L.)
Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)
Squash (Curcurbita pepo L.)
Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.)
Sweet corn (Zea mays L.)
Tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum L.)
Summary
References

CHAPTER 7: Fish and other animals
Fish
Research findings
Pigs
Summary
References

CHAPTER 8: Animal products
Research findings
Effects of feed processing
Effects of digestion in the GI tract and possible transfer of transgenic DNA into edible tissues
Summary
References

CHAPTER 9: Overall assessment of the safety of GM foods and feeds
Microorganisms
Cereal crops
Oilseed crops
Fruits and vegetables
Animals and animal products
Chemical residues
Consensus
Factors that mitigate possible harmful effects from foods derived from GM crops
Summary
References

CHAPTER 10: Overall assessment of the nutritional value of GM foods and feeds
Microorganisms
Cereal crops
Oilseed crops
Soyabeans
Canola
Cottonseed
Fruits and vegetables
Lucerne (alfalfa)
Papaya
Potatoes
Squash
Sugar beet
Sweet corn
Tomatoes
Animal products
Reviews
Summary
References

CHAPTER 11: Addressing consumer issues
Surveys
International
Europe
North America
Africa
Australia/New Zealand
China
Addressing the issues effectively
The informed consumer
Labelling
Summary
References

CHAPTER 12: Overall conclusions
Summary
References

Customer Reviews