Foods containing genetically modified materials / Mayank Prakash.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction -- Genetically modified food -- Food contamination -- Genetically modified of crop plants -- Industrial production of healthier foodstuffs -- GM foods to human health and environment -- Genetically modified food materials and food security -- Genetic resources for food and agriculture -- Genetical modified organism-derive foods -- Genetically modified in plants.

"Food contamination and safety has become an issue of special importance for the retail food industry. There are many opportunities for food to be contaminated between production and consumption. Genetic modification is a special set of gene technology that alters the genetic machinery of such living organisms as animals, plants or microorganisms. Combining genes from different organisms is known as recombinant DNA technology and the resulting organism is said to be 'Genetically modified (GM)', 'Genetically engineered' or 'Transgenic'. Genetically modified (GM) foods are foods derived from genetically modified organisms. Genetically modified organisms have had specific changes introduced into their DNA by genetic engineering techniques. These techniques are much more precise than mutagenesis (mutation breeding) where an organism is exposed to radiation or chemicals to create a non-specific but stable change. Other techniques by which humans modify food organisms include selective breeding (plant breeding and animal breeding), and somaclonal variation. At the national level, food security essentially refers to the capacity of a country to provide sufficient food for its population, and it will depend on such factors as food production, imports, food aid and within-country food distribution (in India's case, this is state-level food security). The ability to absorb shocks to such a system from drought, floods, civil strife, etc. is also relevant. At the household level, food security is here defined as access to food, that is adequate in terms of quality, quantity, safety and cultural acceptability, for all household members. Finally food can be contaminated during the last stages of production at retail establishments and by consumers in their homes. Food safety is especially critical in retail food establishments because this may be the last opportunity to control or eliminate the hazards the last opportunity to control or eliminate the hazards the might contaminate food and cause food borne illnesses"-- Back cover.