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Human Health

In addition, biotechnology can influence health indirectly through environmental influences, such as reduced pesticide usage. As with any new approach, there are risks and benefits to be explored and evaluated. One of the most clear health benefits of foods produced by biotechnology methods is the potential for improved nutrition, such as healthier oils or more vitamin-rich vegetables. A potential health concern is the unintentional introduction of food allergens or toxins into new foods. Although this can be more likely with recombinant DNA techniques it is also easier to know the precise genetic changes made via biotechnology and the most appropriate safety tests can be conducted. With current technology we generally cannot know precisely what protein changes there are in one plant generation to the next when plants reproduce naturally. To date only one bioengineered plant has been found to produce a potential allergen and this was not marked due to health concerns.

Some health concerns arise from misunderstandings and confusion with biotechnology. Some have worried that "recombinant DNA" introduced into food plants is somehow fundamentally different that "normal" DNA found in foods. There is in fact no chemical or physical difference. Some consumers have even thought that only bioengineered foods contain DNA and that DNA in foods might alter our own DNA. Most all our foods are derived from once living plants and animals and all living organisms require DNA. Some processed foods such as vegetable oils, margarines, shortenings, cream and similar products often do not contain DNA.

Another concern raised is that some bioengineered food products might contain antibiotic resistance genes. Antibiotic resistance genes are sometimes used to select for trangenic cells. Although this is not nearly the health concern that the widespread use of antibiotics in animal feeds is because among other reasons they are generally not directly related to antibiotics commonly used in medicine today and usually are not expressed in the plants, it is nevertheless of some small concern. It will be desirable for the future biotech food products not to have any antibiotic resistance genes.