GROUP ASSIGNMENT

FOOD TECHNOLOGY
BNN40304
How Do You Feel About Genetically
Modified Food (GMF)?
Are They Beneficial or Harmful?

Group Members
KHAIRUL ANWAR ROSLI
LIM HUI SIN
TAN KIAN MENG
UMIE ADILAH JAMAL

Introduction To
Genetic Modified Food

By: Khairul
Anwar

What
Whatis
isGenetic
GeneticModified
Modified
Food?
Food?

World Health Organization (WHO) defined

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) as
the organism such as plants, animals or
microorganism in which the genetic
material (DNA) has been altered and do
not occur naturally by mating and/or
natural recombinant.
Genetically Modified Food (GMF) in the
other hand referred to the food that
produced from/or using GMOs.

Objectives
Objectivesof
ofGMFs
GMFs
GMFs are developed and marketed to:
1) Perceived
advantages
to
food
producer and consumer such as:
i. Product with a lower price.
ii. Durability and nutritional value of the
food.

2) Improve crop protection.

. Resistance
to
diseases
(insects/viruses).
. Increased tolerance towards herbicides.

How
How GMFs
GMFs are
are made?
made?
GMFs are made through a process known as
genetic engineering.
Genes of interest are transferred from one
organism to another.
Two primary methods currently exist for
introducing transgenes into plant genomes.
The first involves a device called a gene gun. The
DNA to be introduced into the plant cells is coated
onto tiny particles. These particles are then physically
shot onto plant cells. Some of the DNA comes off and
is incorporated into the DNA of the recipient plant.
The second method uses a bacterium to introduce the
gene(s) of interest into the plant DNA.

Example
Example of
of GMF
GMF application
application
Bt toxins
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a common gram negative,
spore-forming, soil bacterium.
Bt cells undergo sporulation, synthesizing a protein
crystal, insecticidal crystal proteins (ICPs) or Cry
protein.
The development and commercialization of insectresistant transgenic Bt crops expressing Cry toxins is a
great achievement in agriculture and GMF.
Benefits:
High specificity and potency
Reduction in chemical pesticides application
Increased crop yield

Health Factors And

Concerns Of GMFs

By: Lim Hui Sin

Question
Frequently
Asked
Question Frequently Asked
1. Is the transgene itself Toxic? Can it be
transferred to the genome of a consumer?
2. Does the product encoded by the
transgene present a Risk to consumers or
handlers?
3. Will insertion of the transgene increase
the potential hazard from toxins or
pharmacologically
active
substances
present in the host?
4. Will genetic transformation adversely
affect the nutritional value of the host?

 All genetically modified foods that

have been approved are considered
by the government to be as safe as
their traditional counterparts and are
generally unregulated (FDA website).

 In 2009, the American Academy of

Environmental
Medicine
(AAEM)
stated that, Several animal studies
indicate
serious
health
risks
associated with genetically modified
(GM)
food,
including
infertility,
immune problems, accelerated aging,
faulty insulin regulation, and changes in
major organs and the gastrointestinal
system. The AAEM has asked physicians
to advise all patients to avoid GM foods.

Potential
PotentialHealth
Health Effect
Effect
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Food Allergy
Increased Toxicity
Decreased Nutritional Value
Antibiotic Resistance
Cancer
Immuno-suppression

Food
FoodAllergy
Allergy
Allergenicity is one of the major
concerns about food derived from
transgenic crops.
For example, the kiwi fruit was
introduced into the U.S. and the
European markets in the 1960s with
no known human allergies; however,
today there are people allergic to this
fruit (Pastorelloet al., 1998).

Gene
GeneTransfer
Transfer
Gene transfer from GMF to cells of the body or
to bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract would
cause concern if the transferred genetic
material adversely affects human health.
This would be particularly relevant if antibiotic
resistance genes, used as markers when
creating GMOs, were to be transferred.
Although the probability of transfer is low, the
use of gene transfer technology that does not
involve antibiotic resistance genes is
encouraged.

Outcrossing
Outcrossing
The migration of genes from GM plants into
conventional crops or related species in the wild
(referred to as outcrossing), as well as the
mixing of crops derived from conventional seeds
with GM crops, may have an indirect effect on
food safety and food security.
Cases have been reported where GM crops
approved for animal feed or industrial use were
detected at low levels in the products intended
for human consumption.
Several countries have adopted strategies to
reduce mixing, including a clear separation of
the fields within which GM crops and

Influence of Changing Consumer

Lifestyles On Food Product Development

By :Tan Kian Meng

 Food product development needs to

be based on consumers needs and
wishes to be successful.
Factors that have become relevant in
respect to this are:
Cultural influences
Aging and health issues
Busy lifestyles
Food safety and ethical issues
Environmental issues

1. Cultural Influences
Cultural factors are coming from the different
components (eg. religion, belief, tradition etc.)
that influence the consumers behaviour on food
choices.
For example food product development:
McDonalds is a brilliant example of adaptation
to the specificities of each culture and each
market. Well aware of the importance to have an
offer with specific products to meet the needs
and tastes of consumers from different cultures
such as that all the ingredients used by
McDonalds in Arabic and Muslim countries are
certified halal. The fast food chain is not offering,
of course, any product with bacon or pork

2. Aging and Health Issues

Today foods are not intended to only satisfy
hunger and to provide necessary nutrients for
humans but also to prevent nutrition-related
diseases and improve physical and mental wellbeing of the consumers (Menrad, 2003 and
Roberfroid, 2000b).
For example: Functional Foods
Functional foods were those of fortified with
vitamins and/or minerals such as vitamin C,
vitamin E, folic acid, zinc, iron, and calcium that
promote good health.
Functional foods have been developed in virtually
all food categories such as probiotics, prebiotics,
functional meats, functional eggs and etc.

3. Busy Lifestyles
Major macro-economic changes that occurred
worldwide in the last few decades cause many of
us life in busyness. Increased incomes and
general economic growth has resulted in many
cash rich, time poor consumers.
For example: Convenient Foods
Products which have undergone secondary
processing including ready meals, processed
meats, pizzas, pies, savoury products, ice-cream
and confectionery products, dairy desserts, soups
and other prepared consumer ready products.
Convenient foods help in reducing the input
required from consumers in either food shopping,
preparation, cooking or cleaning after the meal.

4. Food Safety and

Ethical Issues

Food safety-the inverse of food risk/the probability

of not suffering some hazard from consuming a
specific food. Microbiological considerations are an
even greater challenge to safety of food.
For example: GM Food
Tolerant to herbicides and resistant to insect
damage.
At the ethical level, there are concerns about
scientists playing God.
At the consumer level, there are worries about the
future safety of the technology, such as the
creation of super-weeds and the development of
serious illness.

5. Environmental Issues
Unsustainable food consumption and
production brought adverse impacts to
the environment.
Nowadays, the world have diverted to the
practice of sustainable food consumption
and
production,
for
instance
vegetarianisms.
For example: Quorn (microbe-protein)
Non-threatening alternative to meat,
substitute for meat in everyday meals.
Obtain from lab-base method, save the
land used.

Advantages and
Disadvantages of GMFs

By: UMIE ADILAH JAMAL

Advantages
1. Huge Amount of Nutritious Foods

The consumers will be able to find several healthy foods that are full of
several kinds of nutrients compared to the ordinary crops that are available
in the market.
Allow the consumers to manage their healthy diet more effectively since all
of the crops that it can offer are 100% nutritious and good for their health.

2. Larger Production

It is much easier to raise the crops since its have stronger pest resistance.
Such situation helps the farmers to produce doubled amounts of foods or
crops much easier.

3. Leads to Decreased Use of Pesticides

GMF do not need pesticides to achieve stronger protection and resistance

against the different kinds of pests and insects that may destroy it.

4. Foods are more resistant and stay ripe

can be shipped long distances or kept on shop shelves for longer periods.

Disadvantages
1.GMO crops cross-pollinate with nearby non-GMO plants
Herbicide-resistant and pesticide-resistant crops could give rise to super-weeds
and super-pests that would need newer, stronger chemicals to destroy them.

2.Unusual Taste
Do not taste natural compared to the ordinary foods that are available in the
market. Its unusual taste could be a result of the substances that were added in
its composition

3.Allergic Reactions
GMO foods can present significant allergy risks to people
Genetic modification often mixes or adds proteins that weren't indigenous to the
original plant or animal, causing new allergic reactions in the human body.

4.Decreased Antibiotic Efficacy

Some GMO foods have had antibiotic features built into them to make them
immune or resistant to diseases or viruses.
When you eat them, these antibiotic markers persist in your body and can make
actual antibiotic medications less effective.
Such ingestion of GMO foods and regular exposure to antibiotics may be
contributing to the decreased effectiveness of antibiotic drugs that is being
noticed in hospitals around the world.

Conclusion
Modern technology should be applied
to improve the way the food is
produced for certain cause such as:
i.

The potential of biotechnology could

benefits the public health such as
increase the food nutrient content,
decrease allergenicity.
ii. Potential negative effect of GMFs on
human health must be examined
thoroughly before developing new
food products.