RTA new genetically modified potato is closer than ever to arriving in American grocery stores, but while advocates claim it can actually reduce the risk of cancer, opponents say not nearly enough is known to ensure public safety.
Created by the J. R. Simplot Company, ‘Innate’ potatoes were created by inserting extra genes into them – genes that are modified but that otherwise exist naturally in the potato. Through genetic modification using RNA interference (RNAi), scientists used these genes to shut down a few of the potato’s other original genes – a process called gene silencing.
Some of the genes being shut down are those that cause bruising and create acrylamide when potatoes are baked or fried. Acrylamide is an amino acid which, in tests conducted on rats, has increased the animals’ risk of getting cancer.
There are also financial incentives behind gene silencing, and the Innate potato was designed to solve a big monetary problem. Farmers currently throw out 1.4 billion pounds of potatoes due to browning and bruising, costing them 15 percent of their profits each year. The fewer potatoes thrown out because of this, the more profit they can recoup off their yield.
While the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved the new varieties in November, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has yet to give the green light on the potato. It is looking into how the genetic modification has altered the chemical makeup of the potato, and whether that raises safety concerns.
The Center for Food Safety (CFS) is worried about the USDA granting the Innate potato a non-regulatory status, since GMO foods are not required to be labeled. As a result, the new potato will be sold to consumers without their knowledge.
“We simply don’t know enough about RNA interference (RNAi) technology to determine whether GE crops developed with it are safe for people and the environment. If this is an attempt to give crop biotechnology a more benign face, all it has really done is expose the inadequacies of the US regulation of GE crops,” said Doug Gurian-Sherman, the director of sustainable agriculture and senior scientist at CFS. “These approvals are riddled with holes and are extremely worrisome.”
CFS said gene silencing may end up turning down – or off – genes other than those that are targeted, because many genes contain similar, or even identical, stretches of DNA. Current testing cannot detect such effects.
Would You Eat a Potato That Won't Turn Brown? GMO Potatoes Have Arrived. http://t.co/ad5Hkho3xT
— Michelle D Karkalik (@Ruthsgd35) January 21, 2015
However, Alan McHughen, a biotechnologist and geneticist at UC Riverside, said he disagreed, adding that the Innate potato is a use of genetic technology “that is benign as you’re ever going to find.”
Meanwhile, RT correspondent Lindsay France reported that Simplot has conducted 140 field trials in 15 potato-growing states, as well as Canada.
“We’ve been eating genetically engineered food products since the middle 90’s and so far there is not a single documented case of harm,”McHughen added. “That’s a pretty good safety track record, I would be really surprised is this potato would reverse that trend.”
Still, there is other dissent coming from food manufacturers. Frito-Lay, the biggest potato chip maker, and McDonald’s have both issued statement saying they are not planning to use the Simplot potatoes in their products.
Will new Innate potato, with no ‘foreign’ DNA, satisfy anti-GMO critics? http://t.co/Rs8of8H8W5 via @GeneticLiteracy
— Jon Entine (@JonEntine) January 28, 2015
According to France, “Simplot says the Innate will most likely be marketed as a ‘value added product’ courtesy of the suppression of the cancer-causing agent gene, and a lack of browning. But it’s not up to Simplot, and it’s not up to the federal government which has passed no law creating a right to know policy for the consumer. It’s up to the manufacturers who stand to profit from letting us know or not.”
I hope people soon realize that all GMO food is being engineered to create the famine that will depopulate the earth – that is why the criminal cartel at the USDA and all of the USG is forcing these frankenfoods on all Americans and trying to force them on the rest of the world – to such an extent that the USG includes mandatory frankenfoods for any country it gets involved in – they are included in treaties and foreign aid packages……..why do you think Bill Gates and the rest of the Nazi Zionists have a heirloom seed bank? These are the people who own MONSATAN….Because they know they will never eat this sh#t……..Americans are so stupid…….we could stop this quickly by simply refusing to buy anything that isn’t certified non-GMO………….but in America where people are still consuming aspartame and fluoride…..I’d say it is hopeless………
Be careful with these modified foods people. I,m missing 1/2 of my large intestinal track because of this garbage. It,s not fun when the doctor comes into your hospital room and tells you that you have stage three cancer.
By the grace of god i,m still alive, i,m damned lucky i,m still here able to curse and raise all kinds of hell.
Mark – I am so sorry to hear your condition – I sure hope you are getting better – surviving cancer in our corrupt medical system is no easy trick….my brother also lost 1/2 his large intestine – it’s happening everywhere – the foods are all being designed to kill us off – but first to make us very sick so we can die bankrupt….GMO destroys the intestinal tract as you know……aspartame, high fructose corn syrup – these are all actual bio-weapons being used on us…..everytime something more deadly is discovered it is quickly added to our food system – Monsatan now uses a chemical related to Agent Orange on all their frankenfood – they have convinced farmers to soak their wheat crop in it right before harvesting – the corrupt, criminal, murdering USG fully backs all of this………
Wishing you improved health so you can live on and fight this death by diet USG/monsatan war against mankind.
Thanks Dalton.
I plan on good health for a long time.
because to believe that GMOs are bad, people would have to believe that their government is out to get them. Not just bumbling, wasteful, uncaring, incompetent, or wrong, but seriously out to get them. To believe that chemtrails even exist, to believe that fluoride and aspartame are bad…. people would have to do a 180 on their framework of existence. Not realizing how brainwashed they are, to have an accurate view of the vastness of this deliberate treachery would smash their comfortable worldview to bits — and then what? The truth of what is being done to us is much, much worse than many people want to think.
If I’m not mistaken J.R. Simplot is the company that provides potatoes for McDonalds french fries Just sayin’.