Can you Pass This GMO Test?

Genetically engineered foods are at the center of a debate raging across the country and consumers may want to brush up on what they know about the crops, which some so passionately say will unleash unintended negative consequences on the world and others say will help the food supply.  At issue is not only whether scientists should be mucking with the genetics of living organisms, but also whether it’s deceptive to consumers if genetically altered foods are not labeled as such. Here’s a short quiz to test your GMO expertise:

1.)  A GMO (genetically modified organism) is:

 a.)   A genetically modified organism that has a gene from another plant that didn’t occur naturally, which gives it an ability it didn’t have before.

b.)  A food that is more resistant to herbicides and harsh environmental conditions.

c.)   A plant that can produce its own insecticides.

d.)  All of the above.

2.)  The first GMO was:

a.)   A soybean created in 1990.

b.)  A tomato created in 1994.

c.)   A sugar beet created in 1995.

3.)  What percentage of GMOs are present in processed foods in the U.S.?

a.)   40-51%

b.)  75-80%

c.)   10-15%

4.)  Among the crops that have been genetically engineered are:

a.)   Corn, cotton, soybeans, sugar beets, papaya

b.)  Bananas, oranges, pineapples

c.)   Green beans, pumpkins, strawberries

5.)  How many countries require that GMOs be labeled as such?

a.)   25

b.)  10

c.)   60

6.)  How many states in the U.S. have implemented a law requiring that GMOs be labeled as such?

a.)   10

b.)  20

c.)   1

7.)  Critics of GMOs are concerned that:

a.)   They could be unsafe to humans.

b.)  They are creating herbicide resistant plants called Super Weeds.

c.)   They can contaminate existing seeds with their altered materials, creating new strains of plants that could have unintended consequences.

d.)  All of the above.

8.)  Certified organic foods:

a.)   Don’t have any GMOs.

b.)  May have trace amounts of GMOs from cross-contamination.

c.)   Must have less than 10 percent of ingredients from GMOs.

 

ANSWERS:

1.)  D  2.)  B  3.)  B (According to the Grocery Manufacturers Association)  4.)  A  5.)  C  6.)  C  (Connecticut, Maine and Vermont)  7.)  D  8.)  B

This post was updated on 7/6/16.