The "Golden Rice" controversy from the previous paragraph once again brought public attention to genetically modified (GM) foods. According to data from ISAAA, in 2011, the global area planted with GM soybeans reached 75.4 million hectares, making up 47% of all genetically modified crops and 75% of the total soybean planting area. The United States is currently the leading producer of genetically modified soybeans.
However, some online articles claim that Americans don’t consume genetically modified foods themselves, and their soybeans are mostly exported. But what’s the reality? How are GM soybeans cultivated and exported in the U.S.? Do Americans eat GM foods? Should they be labeled? And how does the U.S. regulate the commercial use of genetic modification technology? To uncover the truth, the People's Daily “Certification†column recently spoke with U.S. government officials, researchers, farmers, and consumers.
In the 1990s, U.S. scientific institutions developed the first generation of genetically modified soybeans. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the adoption rate of GM soybeans has been steadily increasing. By 2000, it accounted for 54% of the total soybean planting area, and by 2012, this had risen to 93%. Mark Aish, a soybean research expert at the USDA, stated that GM soybeans make up 93% of U.S. soybean production, with most of it consumed domestically. In the 2012-2013 season, domestic consumption was estimated at 47.2 million tons, while 37.3 million tons were exported, representing about 45% of the total.
Mark Aish also noted that GM technology has been successfully used in the U.S. for nearly 20 years. Numerous independent studies have shown no significant differences in safety or nutritional value between GM and non-GM varieties. However, according to U.S. media, many corn, soybean, and cotton crops are genetically modified to resist pests, making GM foods widespread and often unavoidable for consumers.
A 2011 study by Henry Miller, a researcher at Stanford University's Hoover Institution, found that Americans consumed approximately 3 trillion GM food items over the past decade.
When shopping in U.S. supermarkets, it's hard to find any label indicating that a product contains genetically modified ingredients. Currently, there are no federal requirements for labeling GM foods in the U.S. In 2000, the FDA issued a draft policy reaffirming the principle of "substantial equivalence" between GM and traditional foods, which means the agency doesn't mandate specific labels for GM products.
According to Mark Ash, the government's approval of a genetically modified food implies it is safe for consumption, so there's no need for special labeling.
At the University of California, Davis, renowned for its agricultural research, Professor Alan Bennett explained that the U.S. has a very strict process for approving the commercialization of genetically modified technologies. Before any transgenic seeds can be sold, they undergo a rigorous review by multiple agencies. This process can take five to ten years, with seed companies paying millions in review fees—between $10 million and $30 million. With such high costs, companies must ensure their products are safe through extensive testing. Combined with the strong legal system and credit framework in the U.S., companies are highly cautious about bringing GM products to market. Only after thorough scientific evaluation do they feel confident enough to launch them.
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