GMO-A New, Healthier FastFood???

Andrea VoPsychobiology

HC177: Biotech & Art

AbstractMany children and adults in Americabecome obese or nutrient-deficientbecause they eat too much fast food.Instead of eating vegetables and fruits,they snack on fries and fats and oils. Ipropose to genetically modify the foodsthat fast food places serve to incorporatesome of the necessary nutrients within theFrench fries, burgers, and other fast foods.The problems of GMO in fast foods wouldprobably include the high costs ofproduction and perhaps detrimental effectson the environment and consumers.However, with thorough research andcomprehensive testing, I hope to marketthis new and improved fast food out as ahealthier, cost-effective indulgence.

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Concept

Genetically modified foods is still a newproject undergoing testing. I will take GMOs astep further to introduce it into mainstreamfast foods to help rectify nutritionaldeficiencies among many Americans.1Inducing potatoes to produce vitaminsnaturally and hamburger buns to have ironand certain minerals can help alleviateAmericans who eat fast foods often to regaina healthier balance in their diets.

Context & Precedents

67% of Americans over 20 are overweight, and 34% are obese.Although Americans are “overfed” in carbohydrates, fats, andsodium, they are deficient in several key nutrients.2 Potassium,Vitamin E, Vitamin A, and iron are several minerals and vitaminswe lack as a result of our unhealthy diets.3

An example of a successful GMO is “Golden Rice” attempted toaddress the Vitamin A deficiency in poorer parts of the world.3Because many people ate rice in those communities,engineering rice to produce beta-carotene that would convert toVitamin A helped introduce the needed essentials to people whowould otherwise lack these nutrients.

Project Proposal

Genetically modified potatoes used to make Frenchfries will incorporate vitamins. Instead of purely eatingsalt and starch, fast-food consumers will also beingesting a portion of their daily nutrient values, suchas Vitamin A of the original “Golden Rice.”

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Nutrient-Pumped Hamburgers

Also, fast food burgers will havemodified buns, lettuce, and tomatoesthat are genetically modified to includefiber and vitamins. The flour used tomake hamburger buns will beengineered to have iron, while thelettuce will have potassium andcalcium. Consumers will be able toconsume part of their daily valuesthan only fats and oils when theyorder hamburgers.

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Some problems that arise from GMOs in our fastfoods include the costs it will undoubtedly haveon research and production. Also, the effect ofthese foods on the environment and people maybe adverse.

However, I hope that with thorough research,GMOs can be accomplished successfully andsafely. Also I would like to mass-produce thesefast foods inexpensively for those in developingcountries or poorer communities as part of a fightagainst world hunger/nutrient deficiency.

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The concept of a “healthier fast-food”is perhaps paradoxical. However,many of us eat fast foods out ofconvenience or taste to the point thatwe neglect nutritional values. If weare able to genetically modify thesefoods to incorporate just a few ofthese nutrients and mass-produce it,children and adults alike cansupplement their diets with calcium,iron, and vitamins. This is of coursenot a complete substitute for a trulyhealthy meal, but it can stillconsiderably lessen some nutritionaldeficiencies in the world.http://www.unc.edu/world/College_Updat

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Reference

1. “Obesity and Overweight.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.2010-2-11 <http://www.faqs.org/nutrition/Diab-Em/Dietary-Trends-American.html>

2. Herbes, Kirsten. “Dietary Trends, American.”Facts.org. 2010-2-11.<http://www.faqs.org/nutrition/Diab-Em/Dietary-Trends-American.html>

3. “Missing Nutrients: Where Our Diets Fall Short.” Dole. 2010-2-11<http://www.dole.com/LiveRight/Prevention/PreventionDetails/tabid/837/Default.aspx?contentid=4362>

4. “Golden Rice an Effective Source of Vitamin A.” Science Daily. 2010-2-11<http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090513121102.htm>

Bibliography1. “20 Questions on Genetically Modified (GM) Foods.” World Health Organization. 2010-2-11.

http://www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/biotech/20questions/en/2. “Avoiding Nutritional Deficiencies.” Active Network. 2010-2-11.

http://www.active.com/running/Articles/Avoiding_nutrient_deficiencies_21642.htm3. “Five Nutritional Deficiencies and how to correct them.” Cortlandt Forums. 2010-2-11.

hp://www.cortlandtforum.com/5-nutritional-deficiencies-and-how-to-correct-them/article/121111/4. “Golden Rice.” Living on Earth. 2010-2-11. <http://www.loe.org/shows/segments.htm?programID=09-

P13-00005&segmentID=3>5. “Golden Rice an Effective Source of Vitamin A.” Science Daily. 2010-2-11.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090513121102.htm6. “Golden Rice is part of the solution.” Golden Rice.org. 2010-2-11. http://www.goldenrice.org/7. Herbes, Kirsten. “Dietary Trends, American.”Facts.org. 2010-2-11. <http://www.faqs.org/nutrition/Diab-

Em/Dietary-Trends-American.html>8. “McDonald’s USA Nutrition Facts.” McDonalds. 2010-2-11.

http://nutrition.mcdonalds.com/nutritionexchange/nutrition_facts.html9. “Missing Nutrients: Where Our Diets Fall Short.” Dole. 2010-2-11

<http://www.dole.com/LiveRight/Prevention/PreventionDetails/tabid/837/Default.aspx?contentid=4362>10. “Obesity and Overweight.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2010-2-11

<http://www.faqs.org/nutrition/Diab-Em/Dietary-Trends-American.html>