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Click here for Questions and Answers about GM alfalfa!

What is Genetic Modification?

Genetic modification (GM) is recombinant DNA technology, also called genetic engineering
or GE. With genetic engineering scientists can change plants or animals at the molecular level by
inserting genes or DNA segments from other organisms. Unlike conventional breeding and hybridization, the process of genetic engineering enables the direct transfer of genes between different species or kingdoms that would not breed in nature.

What GM Foods are on the Market?

Four GM crops are grown in Canada: corn, soy, canola and white sugar beet (for sugar processing). These are widely used as ingredients in processed foods. There is also now some GM sweet corn grown in Ontario and more could be grown in the future.
- GM cotton (cottonseed oil) and some papaya and a few types of squash are grown in the U.S. and can be imported into Canada, mostly as processed food ingredients.
X GM Tomatoes: There are NO GM tomatoes on the market anywhere in the world.
X GM Potatoes: Monsanto took GM potatoes off the market because of consumer
rejection.
X GM Wheat: In 2004, Monsanto withdrew its request for approval of GM wheat in Canada and the US because of consumer and farmer protest. Monsanto has relaunched its GM wheat research.
X Most of the GM corn grown in Canada is hard corn used for animal feed or processed food ingredients. There is no GM popcorn on the market. There are a few varieties of GM
sweetcorn now being sold in Canada.

How Can I Avoid GM Foods?

Our government does not require labeling. But you can still make a choice:

1. Eating certified organic food is one way you can avoid GM food because GM is prohibited in organic farming. This includes organic dairy, eggs and meat because animals in organic farming are not fed GM grains like corn or soy.
2. You can avoid eating processed foods with corn, canola and soy ingredients.
3. You can buy cane sugar to avoid eating sugar from GM sugarbeets.
4. Support farmers who fight GM: buy food directly from farmers who do not plant GM corn, canola or soy or use GM grains for meat, dairy or egg production.

Are GM Foods Safe to Eat?

We don’t know what, if any, impacts GM foods could have on our health. There are many
unanswered safety questions.

Many scientists warn that:

• The process of genetic engineering could create new allergens.
• Foreign DNA may be able to survive in the human gut.
• Animal feeding studies indicate liver and kidney problems.

GM foods are approved for human consumption based on company-produced science. The
data is secret and is not peer-reviewed by independent scientists. Health Canada does not do its own testing. There is no mandatory labeling in Canada, and no tracking or monitoring of possible health impacts. Click here for more information on human health questions.

What are the Environmental Risks?

Once GM plants are released into the environment they cannot be controlled or recalled.
Genetic pollution is irreversible living pollution that self-replicates. Contamination of other
plants is a major problem because the genes from any crop can move, via seed and pollen flow. GM crops are resulting in increased pesticide use, herbicide tolerant weeds, and the expansion of industrial farming. Click here for more information on environmental impacts.

Who Owns GM Seeds ?

GM technology facilitates corporate control because patents on genetic sequences mean that corporations can own seeds. Monsanto is the largest seed company in the world and
owns about 86% of GM seeds sown globally.