In which decade did the first GMO foods become available for human consumption?

In which decade did the first GMO foods become available for human consumption?

• A. 1980s
• B. 1990s
• C. 2000s
• D. 1970s

Answer: (B)

The key idea is identifying when a GMO was first sold for people to eat. The first GMO food to reach consumers was the Flavr Savr tomato, which received FDA approval in 1994 and was marketed in 1994–1995. That places the milestone in the 1990s. Before that, genetic modification work was progressing in the lab and in policy discussions, but no GMO foods were available to shoppers. So the decade when GMO foods first became available for human consumption is the 1990s.

The key idea is identifying when a GMO was first sold for people to eat. The first GMO food to reach consumers was the Flavr Savr tomato, which received FDA approval in 1994 and was marketed in 1994–1995. That places the milestone in the 1990s. Before that, genetic modification work was progressing in the lab and in policy discussions, but no GMO foods were available to shoppers. So the decade when GMO foods first became available for human consumption is the 1990s.