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Myth vs Facts
GMOs seem to earn a bad reputation, but are the claims against them actually true? Let's explore the myths and controversies that surround the topic of GMOs.
Myth: GMOs pose risks for people with allergies.
It makes sense for a person with a peanut allergy to stay away from foods containing peanuts. What if a peanut gene was inserted into another food? Skeptics question how safe and regulated this process is. There haven't been any discoveries of a GM food that causes allergic reactions, but there still are flaws in the regulation system. For this reason, the American Medical Association has called for mandatory pre-market safety testing of GMOs.
Myth: Consumers cannot avoid GMOs.
It is true that the GMO industry is rapidly improving. However, the US has only approved 10 GM crops for production. An average consumer can easily avoid GM foods by checking for GMO labels. Since there are no health risks to be concerned about, why try to avoid them anyways?
Myth: GM food can alter your DNA.
This claim is debunked using simple biology. Some may assume that inserting a new gene to a food has an effect on our DNA. In reality, the process of genetic modification is essentially introducing or changing proteins in the food. Every food we consume is made up of proteins, so it wouldn't make a difference how that protein was assembled. Proteins in our food are broken down by digestive enzymes and are carried into our bloodstream, having no effect on our DNA whatsoever.
Myth: GMOs are too new to be trusted.
Farmers have been genetically modifying crops for thousands of years. Technology has only improved in a way that makes the process faster and more precise. Typically, 13 years and $136 million is taken before a genetically modified seed is approved. Most of the money is put into the safety testing and registration process. The amount of time and effort spent by researchers and scientists to approve even one seed is remarkably long.
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