Currently, some common GM food crops include soybean, corn, cotton, canola, potatoes,
and tomatoes. Worldwide, more than one half of soybean crops and one third of corn crops are
genetically modified (3). More than 40 GM food crops are approved for human or animal
consumption by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (3).
Initially, GM plants were designed to benefit the producers. Bioengineering was created
plants with resistance to herbicides, increased productivity and yields, resistance to high salinity
of the soil. Over time, new plant developments have been made to benefit the consumer. Fruits
have been developed to be more esthetically appealing such as seedless or sweeter taste.
Research has been developing food as a vehicle for administering vaccines, such as Hepatitis B
surface antigen expressed in potato tubers. Various crops are being developed to have higher
nutritional value such as increasing levels of vitamins and minerals or elevating starch levels in
potatoes so they absorb less fat when frying