Comprehensive Notes on GMOs in Crops, Food, and Beyond
Overview: Am I eating foods that come from GMO crops?
It is very likely you are eating foods and food products made with ingredients from GMO crops.
Common ingredient categories from GMO crops in the American diet include: cornstarch, corn syrup, corn oil, soybean oil, canola oil, and granulated sugar.
A few fresh fruits and vegetables are available in GMO varieties: potatoes, summer squash, apples, papayas, and pink pineapple.
Although GMOs are in many foods, most GMO crops in the United States are used for animal feed.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) maintains a list of bioengineered foods available worldwide to help consumers know if foods contain GMO ingredients.
A new national bioengineered food disclosure standard is leading to more foods carrying a bioengineered label.
Key concepts: Which GMO crops are in the United States?
Examples of GMO crops grown in the U.S.:
In 2020:
of all soybeans planted were GMO soybeans.
of all cotton planted were GMO cotton.
of all corn planted was GMO corn.
In 2013:
of canola planted was GMO canola.
of sugar beets harvested were GMO sugar beets.
Most GMO crops are used to make ingredients that appear in other food products (e.g., cornstarch from GMO corn; sugar from GMO sugar beets).
Corn is the most commonly grown crop in the U.S., and most of it is GMO.
Most GMO corn is created to resist insect pests or tolerate herbicides.
Bt corn: a GMO corn that produces proteins toxic to certain insect pests but not to humans, livestock, or other animals. These are the same types of proteins used by organic farmers to control insect pests and they do not harm beneficial insects such as ladybugs.
Benefits of GMO Bt corn: reduces the need for spraying insecticides while still preventing insect damage.
A large portion of GMO corn is used for animal feed and for making products like corn-derived ingredients in processed foods and drinks.
Crop-specific details and examples
Soybeans: Mostly grown in the United States; most GMO soybeans are used for animal feed (predominantly poultry and livestock) and for making soybean oil; also used as ingredients in processed foods.
Corn: Most commonly grown crop; most is GMO; used in processed foods/drinks and as animal feed.
Cotton: GMO cotton was created to be resistant to bollworms and to help revive the Alabama cotton industry; cotton is used for textile fiber and also for cottonseed oil in packaged foods and for animal feed via cottonseed meals/hulls.
Potatoes: Some GMO potatoes resist insect pests and disease; some varieties resist browning and bruising during packaging, storage, transport, or when cut in the kitchen.
Papaya: Rainbow papaya developed to resist ring spot virus, helping Hawaii’s papaya industry; considered safe for farming on the Hawaiian Islands.
Summer squash: GMO version is resistant to some plant viruses; one of the first GMOs on the market but not widely grown.
Canola: GMO canola used primarily to make cooking oil and margarine; canola seed meal used in animal feed; canola oil improves food consistency; most GMO canola is resistant to herbicides, aiding weed control in fields.
Alfalfa: GMO alfalfa primarily used to feed cattle (especially dairy cows); resistant to herbicides, enabling weed control without harming the crop.
Apple: A few GMO apple varieties resist browning after being cut, reducing perceived food waste from brown apples.
Sugar beets: Used to make granulated sugar; more than half of granulated sugar packages on grocery shelves are from GMO sugar beets; herbicide resistance aids weed control in fields.
Pink pineapple: Developed to have pink flesh by increasing levels of lycopene; lycopene is the pigment that makes tomatoes red and watermelon pink.
Animals eating GMO crops
More than >95\% of animals used for meat and dairy in the United States eat GMO crops.
Independent studies show no difference in health and safety between foods from animals fed GMO crops and those fed non-GMO crops.
The DNA in GMO foods does not transfer to the animals that eat them; animals do not become GMOs by eating GMO food (e.g., cows do not become grass, chickens do not become corn).
Similarly, DNA from GMO-fed animals does not make it into meat, eggs, or milk.
Foods from animals fed GMO crops (eggs, dairy, meat) are nutritionally equal in value, safety, and quality to foods from animals fed non-GMO crops.
Regulatory oversight and safety
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the primary regulatory agency responsible for ensuring the safety of GMO and non-GMO foods for animals; the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine oversees this responsibility.
FDA requirements for animal foods include: the foods must be safe for animals to eat, produced under clean conditions, contain no harmful substances, and be accurately labeled.
Are there GMO animals in the food supply?
Yes. FDA has approved the sale of AquaAdvantage salmon for human consumption; this salmon is genetically modified to reach market size faster.
FDA has approved an alteration in the GalSafe pig for human food consumption and potential therapeutic uses; the GalSafe pig was developed to be free of detectable alpha-gal sugar on its cell surfaces.
People with alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) may have allergic reactions to gal sugar found in red meat. FDA has determined that foods from AquaAdvantage salmon and GalSafe pigs are as safe and nutritious to eat as non-GMO counterparts.
GMO technology beyond food
GMOs are used to create medicines through genetic engineering; this process was instrumental in producing human insulin and medicines used to treat diabetes.
Medicines developed through genetic engineering undergo an in-depth FDA approval process; all medicines must be proven safe and effective before approval for human use.
GMOs are also used in the textile industry; GMO cotton plants are used to create cotton fiber for fabrics and related materials.
Key takeaways and implications
GMOs are widespread in food ingredients, with specific crops accounting for high adoption rates in the U.S.
The majority of GMO crops are directed toward animal feed and processing inputs rather than direct consumer consumption of fresh produce.
Regulatory oversight (FDA, USDA) and labeling standards are in place to inform consumers and ensure safety.
Proponents emphasize reduced pesticide use (e.g., Bt corn) and herbicide tolerance as practical benefits; critics often focus on ecological and economic considerations.
The same biotechnology that enables GMO crops also underpins pharmaceutical production and textile manufacturing, illustrating broader applications beyond food.
Notable numerical references (for quick review)
GMO soybeans planted in 2020:
GMO cotton planted in 2020:
GMO corn planted in 2020:
GMO canola planted in 2013:
GMO sugar beets harvested in 2013:
Proportion of animals fed GMO crops in the U.S.: >95\%
Connections to foundations and real-world relevance
These notes tie into foundational principles of genetics, biotechnology, and agriculture: gene modification to confer desirable traits (pest resistance, herbicide tolerance) and its downstream effects on farming practices, food processing, and environmental stewardship.
Practical implications include labeling, consumer choice, and ongoing regulatory assessments of safety and nutritional equivalence.
Ethical and philosophical considerations involve transparency, ecosystem impacts, and balancing innovation with public health and environmental concerns.
Quick glossary (in-text references)
Bt corn: a GMO that expresses Bacillus thuringiensis-derived proteins toxic to certain pests but safe for humans and most non-target organisms.
Bioengineered foods: foods produced from genetically modified organisms or containing ingredients derived from GMOs.
Alpha-gal sugar: a carbohydrate moiety on cell surfaces that can trigger AGS in some individuals.
AquaAdvantage salmon: FDA-approved GMO salmon that grows faster than conventional salmon.
GalSafe pig: FDA-approved GMO pig without detectable alpha-gal sugars on its cells, with potential therapeutic uses.
Lycopene: a pigment that contributes to pink/red coloration; in pink pineapple, increased lycopene gives pink flesh.