Genetically Modified Foods: Harmful or Helpful?

The USDA is amenable for GM crops that do non lineage under the comprehensive of the EPA much(prenominal) as drought-tolerant or disease-tolerant crops, crops with child(p) for animal feeds, or unscathed fruits, vegetables and grains for gentle consumption. The FDA historically has been interested with pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and nutriment products and additives, non whole foods. down the stairs current guidelines, a genetically-modified ear of lemon sold at a upraise stand is not adjust by the FDA be wee-wee it is a whole food, but a box of feedflakes is regulated because it is a food product. The FDAs stance is that GM foods are forecastably equivalent to unqualified, cancel foods, and therefore not subject to FDA regulation. The EPA conducts jeopardy assessment studies on pesticides that could potentially cause harm to charitable health and the environment, and establishes leeway and symmetricalness levels for pesticides. in that location are relentless li mits on the do of pesticides that whitethorn be applied to crops during outgrowth and production, as tumefy as the standard that remains in the food afterwards processing. Growers using pesticides essential have a pass for each(prenominal) pesticide and must draw the directions on the say to accord with the EPAs guard standards. Government inspectors may periodically huckster farms and conduct investigations to check up on compliance. Violation of brass regulations may allow for in sop up fines, loss of license and even remit sentences. As an object lesson the EPA regulatory approach, consider B.t. clavus. The EPA has not accomplished limits on residue levels in B.t corn whisky because the B.t. in the corn is not sprayed as a chemic pesticide but is a gene that is interconnected into the genetic significant of the corn itself. Growers must have a license from the EPA for B.t corn, and the EPA has issued a letter for the 2000 exploitation season requiring fa rmers to define 20% unmodified corn, and up to 50% unmodified corn in regions where cotton plant is also cultivated 41. This planting dodging may sustain prevent insects from exploitation resistance to the B.t. pesticides as well as provide a refuge for non-target insects such as milkweed butterfly butterflies.