USDA Approves a New, GM Potato

Grace Longwell
Dempsey - Period 7
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/08/business/genetically-modified-potato-from-simplot-approved-by-usda.html?_r=0

In this article, the practice and recent approval of genetically modified potatoes is the main topic. This new potato theoretically is resistant to bruising, and will not contain the chemical, acrylamide, when fried, which supposedly has been causing cancer in humans. Most genetically modified crops (i.e. soy, corn) have no benefit to the consumers, only the farmers. However, this newfangled potato can have positive effects on both those who produce it and those who eat it. There are lots of questions and uncomfort with genetically modified food and many people are against it. Before this potato, tomatoes, corn, alfalfa and beets were all genetically modified and approved between 1994 and 2010. These crops seem to be good, but lots of people are against popular food companies (mainly McDonald’s) using them for their products, especially french fries. One of things that this potato has going for it is that Monsanto did not genetically modify it, Simplot did. Simplot is a well known and well regarded name in the potato industry, and many people trust them when they say that this potato is good for us.

All of the discussion and debate about genetically modified foods (potatoes in particular) has a large connection to our past unit in biology. We learned about PCR and how the scientists replicate a desired gene to help and modify the food. We also were given the task of researching many different pros and cons of genetically modified food and debating about it against our classmates.

This article further represents the split between people who support the use/production of genetically modified food and those who do not. There is an evident benefit of less acrylamide when the potato is fried. Anti-GMO people will say that this needs to be clearly marked as a genetically modified product so we know what we are ingesting, but the supporters do not see the point in that if it is only benefitting people. People who are against the use of GMOs think that big companies like McDonald’s (who goes through a lot of potatoes making french fries) should not use these new potatoes because then they will be so more mainstream and hard to escape. The genetically modified food debate is a long one, and scientists only keep extending it more.