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World & Nation

Seven foods, genetically engineered

The most commonly bioengineered food crop, about 95% of soybeans have been genetically modified in the laboratory, often, as with corn, to be Roundup ready, or able to withstand the herbicide glyphosate. This isn't just about tofu; many processed foods contain soy, perhaps most commonly as the emulsifier lecithin (one of the 10 most common ingredients in processed foods) but also in the form of soybean oil and soy sauce. Above, a farmer holds Monsanto's Roundup-ready soybean seeds at his family farm in Bunceton, Mo.

The most commonly bioengineered food crop, about 95% of soybeans have been genetically modified in the laboratory, often, as with corn, to be Roundup ready, or able to withstand the herbicide glyphosate. This isn’t just about tofu; many processed foods contain soy, perhaps most commonly as the emulsifier lecithin (one of the 10 most common ingredients in processed foods) but also in the form of soybean oil and soy sauce.

Above, a farmer holds Monsanto’s Roundup-ready soybean seeds at his family farm in Bunceton, Mo.   (Dan Gill / Associated Press)

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Under fire from an opposition campaign heavily financed by Monsanto, Dow Chemical and other big agribusiness names, Proposition 37 has been losing popularity in the polls. The measure would require the labeling of genetically engineered foods. But it also could threaten the livelihood of mom-and-pop grocers, lead the way to a plethora of lawsuits even when there’s little to no evidence, and in the end leave consumers no better informed than they are today because food companies quite possibly would just slap labels on all their products with vague wording that they “may” contain genetically engineered ingredients. It’s true, though, that there’s reason for environmental concern over genetically engineered foods, and they haven’t always been welcomed by consumers. Here, then, is a gallery of genetically engineered foods: those that got the ball rolling, those most popular now and the ones that might be on shelves in the reasonably near future. More: Endorsement: No on Proposition 37 --Karin Klein

AquaBounty Technologies salmon

AquaBounty Technologies has not yet received FDA approval for its genetically engineered salmon, which feature a growth hormone gene from another kind of fish plus an antifreeze gene from a third so that it will grow much faster. This is one that The Times’ editorial board has called for rejecting, at least until considerably more research has been done. Scientists have raised concerns about whether adequate studies were done -- especially the lack of data over what would happen in the wild if the fish escaped from the tanks inland where the company plans to raise them. To avoid interbreeding, all the fish would theoretically be both female and sterile. But the process doesn’t work for all fish; a certain percentage would be able to breed. Another concern is whether all future operations for raising the salmon would be as careful as the one being outlined for FDA approval.

Above, AquaBounty’s genetically modified salmon, rear, is shown with an unmodified salmon of the same age.   (AquaBounty Technologies / Associated Press)

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