what is bioengineered food

Bioengineered food, also known as genetically modified food or genetically engineered food, is food produced from organisms that have had changes introduced into their DNA using various methods of genetic engineering. Genetic engineering techniques allow for the introduction of new traits as well as greater control over traits when compared to previous methods, such as selective breeding and mutation breeding. Bioengineered food contains genetic material that has been modified through certain laboratory techniques and for which the modification could not be obtained through conventional breeding or found in nature. The USDA defines bioengineered foods as those that contain detectable genetic material that has been modified through certain lab techniques and cannot be created through conventional breeding or found in nature. Bioengineered foods are labeled with the bioengineered food disclosure, and the USDA maintains a list of bioengineered foods that includes alfalfa, canola, corn, cotton, potato, soybean, and sugarbeet, among others. Highly refined ingredients like some sugars and oils and foods that are primarily meat, poultry, or egg products do not require a bioengineered food disclosure.