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NABC Report 02: Agricultural Biotechnology, Food Safety and Nutritional Quality for the Consumer
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Published June 1990 by NABC.
Increasing media attention given to food safety and food quality in the year of the first United States approval of a genetically-engineered product for use in food production has focused on the coming of biotechnology to the food arena. See the intense public debate about the introduction genetically engineered bovine somatotropin (BST). The public concern about its use resulted in at least a temporary ban in some parts of Europe, and if approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) it will be initially banned in some parts of the United States. In this report, diverse viewpoints are expressed by speakers and in the workshops. Numerous examples of potential benefits that biotechnology can bring to food safety and food quality are presented: the first genetically-engineered, food-grade microbe, a baker's yeast with enhanced leavening properties; Chymosin as the first enzyme produced by a genetically engineered organism for use in cheese production replacing rennet; the DNA probe detects more quickly and earlier in the production process microbial contaminations.
However, lack of trust, value conflicts, unequal distribution of benefits and risks, failure to communicate influences the consumer’s willingness to accept biotechnology, probably influenced by past experience, when the promises of DDT, aerosol sprays and nuclear power were acclaimed at the time of their introduction, only to later be shown to pose environmental or health risks. In addition, something that is scientifically sound, and environmentally and nutritionally safe, may have social or economic consequences that are unacceptable to certain segments of the population. Finally, the public trust in the regulatory agencies is shaken.
The current lack of stringent food labeling guidelines, a scientifically undereducated public, and a loss of faith in traditional “experts" has resulted in a marketplace that is emotional and highly volatile in terms of food issues. This is due partly to lack of communication between stakeholders. The whole spectrum of issues related to biotechnology and food needs to he quietly discussed and carefully evaluated. In order to reach meaningful resolution, all voices must be heard, but first consumers need to be educated to understand both, terms and concepts, of this debate.
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Recent Submissions
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Potential economic impacts of agricultural biotechnology
(NABC, 1990)Careful evaluation of the likely benefits and costs of biotechnology can ensure the timely and reasonable application of these emerging technology developments in our society. This will require increased research cooperation ... -
The social impact of biotechnology on farming and food production
(NABC, 1990)Who shall control technological development? Should it serve narrow vested interests or broad public goods? Reinforce widely held values or to shatter them? Scientists have a special obligation to take these questions very ... -
Risk: Ethical issues and values
(NABC, 1990)Scientists will have to demonstrate Insight and sensitivity to the non quantitative factors that inform policy decisions on risk. -
Genetically engineered plant foods: tomatoes
(NABC, 1990)Development and field trials of genetically engineered tomatoes -
Government Regulation: Insuring Safety and Quality
(NABC, 1990)A brief outline of the regulation of biotechnology across the board in the United States today. An important feature of this discussion is that its focus is not on laws and regulations for the issues of biotechnology, but ... -
Biotechnologically modified animal Pproducts
(NABC, 1990)The primary challenge is to develop systems employing current and new biotechnologies which will allow production of specific uniform products from diverse animal production systems in a range of designer foods. -
Biotechnology and food safety
(NABC, 1990)Biotechnology is a new technology that is entering the marketplace at a time when consumers are anxious about the use of technology in food production. Consumers want “natural” products that are free of synthetic additives. ... -
Food processing biotechnology
(NABC, 1990)Biotechnology could have a dramatic impact on the entire agriculture and food sector. It has the potential to reduce the need for agricultural chemicals; improve productivity, efficiency, and profitability of food production ... -
The implications for biotechnology-related products of food safety and nutrition based marketing
(NABC, 1990)The how will biotechnology-related products compete in a marketplace made up of traditional and conventionally processed products and those that are being marketed specifically on the basis of food safety and nutrition attribute. -
Evaluating the relative safety of biotechnologically produced foods
(NABC, 1990)If the public worries about the safety of the traditional food supply, it will worry ten times more about the safety of new foods. But there is big future for biotechnology in the development of special foods for persons ...
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