GE Foods

What are GE plants?
These are plants, in which foreign genes were inserted to develop the traits of herbicide tolerance, pest resistance, and increased crop capacity.

How are GE plants produced?
They are produced by inserting a gene from another organism into the DNA of the plant. Donors can be bacteria, viruses, other plants, animals and even a human being. For example, the frost-resistant tomato was produced by transferring into it's DNA a gene of the North American flounder. To breed the drought resistant wheat a gene of the scorpion was used.

Who and when created genetically modified organisms (GMO)?
Transgenic foods were first developed by Monsanto Company (USA). The first transgenic crops were planted in 1988, and in 1993 first food products with GE ingredients appeared on the shelves of supermarkets. In late 1990s transgenic food came to the Russian market.

Why are GMO dangerous for human health?
Many scientists express their fear that GMO contribute to a risk of serious allergies, food poisoning, mutations and promote immunity against antibiotics.

Why are GMO dangerous for the environment?
There is scientific evidence that GN crop production results in destruction of the whole groups of insects, appearance of new mutant weeds and insects, biological and chemical contamination of soils and gradual biodiversity loss, especially in the centers of cultivated crops.

Why are GMO dangerous for the Russian agriculture?
Releasing GMO in the Russian fields threatens, first, a decrease in species biodiversity; second, economic dependence on GM crops’ manufacturers and loss of an important Russian industry – seed-farming; third,  undermining food safety; and, fourth, worsening the environmental situation all over the country.

Are GMO allowed in Russia?
Yes, they are. In our country 13 GE ingredients are officially allowed for sale and food production, including baby food. The industrial GM production is banned and to get permission each species has to pass the environmental impact assessment.

How to identify GE food products?
According to the amendment to the law “On Consumers’ Rights Protection” of 2005, a product containing any amount of GE ingredients must have appropriate labeling. Labeling requirements and the control procedure haven’t been developed yet. This enables manufacturers to neglect labeling standards.