Lucas Delgado
Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are commonly used in the beef and chicken industries. While GMOs are not directly added to the meat, beef cattle may consume feed from genetically modified plants, such as corn, soybeans, and alfalfa. Chicken farmers have also fed their flocks genetically modified grains and oilseeds, such as corn and soybeans, under U.S. government oversight. This practice has raised concerns about animal welfare, with chickens suffering from health issues like bone fractures and cardiovascular disease, and ethical implications for farmers and consumers. Consumers seeking alternatives to GMO meat can opt for organic options, which do not use genetically modified feed ingredients.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| GMO crops used for animal feed | Corn, soybeans, canola, alfalfa |
| GMO crops used in food products | Cornstarch, corn syrup, corn oil, soybean oil, canola oil, granulated sugar |
| GMO fresh fruits and vegetables | Papayas, summer squash, apples, pink pineapples, potatoes |
| GMO crops benefits | Require less fertilizer and fewer pesticides, increase crop yields |
| GMO animal feed safety | No negative impact on animal health, no difference in nutritional value |
| GMO animal products safety | No GMO DNA found in meat, milk or eggs, no health risk to consumers |
| GMO chicken specific issues | Welfare concerns for mother hens, bone fractures, health issues for broiler chickens |
| Non-GMO options | Look for USDA Organic or Certified Organic labels |
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What You'll Learn
Chickens are GMOs by the USDA's definition
Chickens are considered Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) by the USDA's definition of "genetically modified". The USDA defines genetic engineering as:
> "Manipulation of an organism’s genes by introducing, eliminating or rearranging specific genes using the methods of modern molecular biology, particularly those techniques referred to as recombinant DNA techniques."
While the production of modern broiler chickens does not rely on recombinant DNA techniques, it is considered genetic engineering by the USDA as it depends on manipulating specific genes using modern molecular biology methods. Chickens have been selectively bred to emphasise certain characteristics that increase profitability, such as rapid growth rates and reduced feed intake. This form of genetic modification has led to serious welfare concerns for mother hens, including bone fractures caused by early laying and increased egg production.
The use of GMOs in chicken feed is common, with farmers feeding genetically modified grains (corn) and oilseeds (soybeans) to their flocks since 1996 under U.S. government oversight. Over 80% of corn and soybeans grown in the U.S. are from genetically modified seeds, resulting in almost all conventional livestock and poultry consuming genetically modified feed. The National Chicken Council (NCC) recognises that not all consumers support the use of GMOs, but assures that chicken products with the Certified Organic label granted by the USDA have not used genetically modified feed ingredients.
While there is ongoing debate about the definition of GMOs and the implications for chickens, the USDA's definition encompasses the genetic modification that chickens have undergone through selective breeding.
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Chicken feed often contains GMOs
The use of GMOs in chicken feed is a result of their efficiency. Genetically modified crops require less fertilizer and fewer pesticides, while increasing crop yields. This makes feeding them to chickens more environmentally friendly and results in a more sustainable food product. There is also no nutritional difference between chicken products where the chickens have been fed genetically modified crops and those that have not. Studies have shown that there is no difference in how GMO and non-GMO foods affect the health and safety of animals.
However, some consumers are still uncomfortable with the idea of eating chicken that has been fed GMOs. For these consumers, there are options for chicken that has been raised without genetically modified feed ingredients. Chicken products that carry the Certified Organic label, granted by the USDA, have not used genetically modified feed ingredients in the raising process. Farms like Acabonac Farms also pride themselves on raising chickens in their natural pasture environments, feeding them non-GMO feed. This ensures that the chickens are consuming high-quality, clean ingredients that enhance their health and the quality of the meat they produce.
While the National Chicken Council (NCC) stands behind the science regarding GMO's, it recognizes that not all consumers support this practice. The NCC encourages consumers to know that they can eat all USDA-inspected chicken with the highest confidence, knowing that their chicken is safe and wholesome, regardless of whether the chicken was fed GMO ingredients.
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Beef cattle may consume GMO feed
Genetically modified crops (GMOs) are common in the beef and chicken producing industry. In the United States, more than 95% of animals used for meat and dairy eat GMO crops. Corn and soybeans, for example, are often genetically modified and fed to cattle and chickens.
GMO crops are used in animal feed because they offer advantages such as requiring less fertilizer and fewer pesticides, while increasing crop yields. This makes GMO crops more environmentally friendly and sustainable.
There is ongoing debate about the safety and impact of GMO feed for beef cattle. Some consumers are concerned about the potential presence of GMO corn in livestock feed. However, numerous studies have found no significant differences in the nutritional value, safety, or quality of meat, eggs, and dairy products derived from animals fed GMO feed compared to those fed non-GMO feed. These studies also indicate that GMO feed does not negatively impact animal health or productive performance. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for ensuring the safety of both GMO and non-GMO food for animals.
For consumers who wish to avoid GMO feed in their beef, organic options are available. The USDA National Organic Program standards prohibit the use of genetically modified crops in organic animal feed.
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Consumers are increasingly concerned about GMOs in chicken
Genetically modified crops require less fertilizer and fewer pesticides, while increasing crop yields. This helps make feeding them to chickens more environmentally friendly and results in a more sustainable food product. However, there are concerns about the impact of GMOs on chicken health and welfare. Laying hens, for example, often experience painful fractures of their keel bones, which are likely caused by the young age at which they now begin laying eggs, the size of the eggs, and weakened bones due to egg production requiring much of the hen's calcium. Broiler chickens raised for meat also experience leg disorders, cardiovascular disease, and high mortality rates due to intense breeding.
Despite these concerns, there is no scientific evidence of any compromise to animal health from the ingestion of genetically modified feed ingredients. Studies have shown that there is no difference in how GMO and non-GMO foods affect animal health and safety. The DNA in the GMO food does not transfer to the animal that eats it, and there is no food safety risk to human health when consuming chicken or other animal agriculture products that have been raised with genetically modified feed ingredients.
However, recognizing that not all consumers support the use of GMOs, the USDA has implemented a labeling system. Chicken products that carry the Certified Organic label have not used genetically modified feed ingredients in the raising process. Consumers who want to avoid GMOs can look for this label to ensure they are purchasing chicken raised without GMOs.
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GMOs are not a new technology
Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are not a new technology. Genetic engineering, the process used to create GMOs, was first used to make human insulin, a medicine used to treat diabetes. Since then, techniques used to create GMOs have been important in creating some medicines. For example, the GalSafe pig was developed to be free of detectable alpha-gal sugar on its cell surfaces to prevent allergic reactions in people with Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS).
In the United States, livestock have been fed genetically engineered crops since 1996. More than 95% of animals used for meat and dairy in the US eat GMO crops. Corn, soybeans, and alfalfa are commonly used GM crops for livestock feed. Since more than 80% of corn and soybeans grown in the US are raised from genetically modified seeds, almost all corn and soybean used in conventional livestock and poultry production are genetically modified.
Genetically modified crops require less fertilizer and fewer pesticides, while increasing crop yields. This helps make feeding them to chickens and other livestock more environmentally friendly and results in a more sustainable food product. There is no nutritional difference between meat and dairy products from animals that have been fed genetically modified crops versus those that have not. Studies have shown that there is no difference in how GMO and non-GMO foods affect the health and safety of animals. The DNA in the GMO food does not transfer to the animal that eats it.
While GMO crops have been used in animal feed for almost twenty years, there are still concerns about their use. Consumers who want to avoid GMOs can look for beef labelled as USDA Organic, as the USDA National Organic Program standards prohibit the use of feeding genetically modified crops.
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Frequently asked questions
While GMOs are not added directly to beef, beef cattle may consume feed from genetically modified plants. These include corn, soybeans, and alfalfa.
Farmers have been developing new crops for 10,000 years. The use of GMOs allows farmers to feed more people with increased efficiency. Additionally, hundreds of studies have shown no adverse effects on the health of animals or the quality of meat.
Chickens raised for meat are bred to grow extremely quickly, while those raised for eggs lay an unnaturally high number of them. This is done to maximise the profit of the animal agriculture industry, with little regard given to the welfare of the chickens.
The intensive breeding of chickens has led to serious welfare concerns, including painful bone fractures, lameness, and heart failure. Additionally, farmers are forced to rely on corporate chicken breeders due to the birds' inability to breed themselves, resulting in a lack of agency for farmers.
There is no nutritional difference between chickens fed GMO ingredients and those that are not. The World Health Organization (WHO) supports this position, stating that there are no food safety or health risks associated with the consumption of chicken or other animal agriculture products raised with GMO feed ingredients.
