The Concerning Rise of GMO Food Animals

A quiet effort is underway to maximize profits by manipulating the genes of food animals

In 2011, scientists at the China Agricultural University introduced human genes into dairy cows to produce milk closer in composition to that of humans. The goal was to have milk from GMO cows sold in supermarkets and positioned as an alternative to formula and human breast milk for babies. Scott Olson/Getty Images

The health conscious and safe food advocates are well aware of genetically modified organisms (GMO) such as the corn that Monsanto designed to withstand heavier exposures to its juggernaut herbicide Roundup.

Less publicized, however, are GMO food animals. Judging from ongoing research, the companies making these creatures hope they will increasingly find their way onto Americans’ plates in the years ahead. The AquAdvantage salmon was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2015, but other GMO animals are under development.