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Have long-term health studies been conducted on GMO crops?

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Have long-term health studies been conducted on GMO crops?

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According to my source which is NC State University. There have been some specific studies involving human subjects on specific concerns like potential allergen responses and protein digestibility, but long-term human clinical trials are not part of the normal regulatory process for genetically engineered food or any other food.

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How Long Has the Health Benefit / Risk of GMO in Our Foods Been Studied? Are There Any Long-Term Studies Examining the Effects of GMO Products on Humans?

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Of course we have been eating GE food for almost 2 decades with no reports of health problems, but that is not a study. GE crops are the most studied foods in the history of man. There have been over 2000 studies conducted on GE foods. How many are long term?

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 Do GMO crops have an impact on bees or butterflies?

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 Do GMO crops have an impact on bees or butterflies?

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GM crops don't harm honeybees or monarch butterflies. According to hawaii.edu The authors reported that when monarch caterpillars were fed milkweed leaves dusted with pollen from a GM corn variety that makes a biological insecticide, a protein formed by a bacterium – Bacillus the caterpillars ate less and were more likely to die than caterpillars fed pollen

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Scientists developing GMOs run tests to make sure allergens aren't transferred from one food to another. Research shows that GMO foods are no more likely to cause allergies than non-GMOs.

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Do seed companies have an  influence on whether farmers  grow GMOs?

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Do seed companies have an  influence on whether farmers  grow GMOs?

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The contracts that seed companies require that buyers of their GM seeds sign when obtaining those seeds may disadvantage farmers. Seed companies have invested significant funds in the research and development of GM seeds, and they protect this investment through their contracts with agricultural growers.

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If livestock eat genetically modified grain, will there be  GMOs  in my meat?

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If livestock eat genetically modified grain, will there be  GMOs  in my meat?

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The DNA in the GMO food does not transfer to the animal that eats it. This means that animals that eat GMO food do not turn into GMOs. If it did, an animal would have the DNA of any food it ate, GMO or not.

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Feed Your Mind Main Page en Español (Spanish)
Am I eating foods that come from GMO crops?

It is very likely you are eating foods and food products that are made with ingredients that come from GMO crops. Many GMO crops are used to make ingredients that Americans eat such as cornstarch, corn syrup, corn oil, soybean oil, canola oil, or granulated sugar. A few fresh fruit and vegetables are available in GMO varieties, including potatoes, summer squash, apples, papayas, and pink pineapples. Although GMOs are in a lot of the foods we eat, most of the GMO crops grown in the United States are used for animal food.

To make it easier for consumers to know if the foods they eat contain GMO ingredients, the U.S. Department of Agriculture maintains a list of bioengineered foods available throughout the world. Additionally, you will start seeing the "bioengineered" label on some of the foods we eat because of the new National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard.

GMOs, Farm to Table

What GMO crops are in the United States?
Corn:
Corn is the most commonly grown crop in the United States, and most of it is GMO. Most GMO corn is created to resist insect pests or tolerate herbicides. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn is a GMO corn that produces proteins that are toxic to certain insect pests but not to humans, pets, livestock, or other animals. These are the same types of proteins that organic farmers use to control insect pests, and they do not harm beneficial insects, such as ladybugs. GMO Bt corn reduces the need for spraying insecticides while still preventing insect damage. While a lot of GMO corn goes into processed foods and drinks, most of it is used to feed livestock, like cows, and poultry, like chickens.
Soybean:
Most soy grown in the United States is GMO soy. Most GMO soy is used for food for animals, predominantly poultry and livestock, and making soybean oil. It is also used as ingredients (lecithin, emulsifiers, and proteins) in processed foods.
Cotton:
GMO cotton was created to be resistant to bollworms and helped revive the Alabama cotton industry. GMO cotton not only provides a reliable source of cotton for the textile industry, it is also used to make cottonseed oil, which is used in packaged foods and in many restaurants for frying. GMO cottonseed meal and hulls are also used in food for animals.
Potato:
Some GMO potatoes were developed to resist insect pests and disease. In addition, some GMO potato varieties have been developed to resist bruising and browning that can occur when potatoes are packaged, stored, and transported, or even cut in your kitchen. While browning does not change the quality of the potato, it often leads to food being unnecessarily thrown away because people mistakenly believe browned food is spoiled.
Papaya:
By the 1990s, ringspot virus disease had nearly wiped out Hawaii's papaya crop, and in the process almost destroyed the papaya industry in Hawaii. A GMO papaya, named the Rainbow papaya, was created to resist ringspot virus. This GMO saved papaya farming on the Hawaiian Islands.
Summer Squash:
GMO summer squash is resistant to some plant viruses. Squash was one of the first GMOs on the market, but it is not widely grown.
Canola:
GMO canola is used mostly to make cooking oil and margarine. Canola seed meal can also be used in food for animals. Canola oil is used in many packaged foods to improve food consistency. Most GMO canola is resistant to herbicides and helps farmers to more easily control weeds in their fields.
Alfalfa:
GMO alfalfa is primarily used to feed cattle-mostly dairy cows. Most GMO alfalfa is resistant to herbicides, allowing farmers to spray the crops to protect them against destructive weeds that can reduce alfalfa production and lower the nutritional quality of the hay.
Apple:
A few varieties of GMO apples were developed to resist browning after being cut. This helps cut down on food waste, as many consumers think brown apples are spoiled.
Sugar Beet:
Sugar beets are used to make granulated sugar. More than half the granulated sugar packaged for grocery store shelves is made from GMO sugar beets. Because GMO sugar beets are resistant to herbicides, growing GMO sugar beets helps farmers control weeds in their fields.
Pink Pineapple:
The GMO pink pineapple was developed to have pink flesh by increasing the levels of lycopene. Lycopene is naturally found in pineapples, and it is the pigment that makes tomatoes red and watermelons pink.

What about animals that eat food made from GMO crops?

Similarly, the DNA from GMO animal food does not make it into the meat, eggs, or milk from the animal. Research shows that foods like eggs, dairy products, and meat that come from animals that eat GMO food are equal in nutritional value, safety, and quality to foods made from animals that eat only non-GMO food.

Learn more about GMO Crops and Food for Animals.

Who makes sure animal food is safe?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the primary regulatory agency responsible for ensuring the safety of GMO and non-GMO food for animals. The FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine manages this responsibility. FDA requires that all food for animals, like food for human foods, be safe for animals to eat, be produced under clean conditions, contain no harmful substances, and be accurately labeled.

Are there GMO animals in the food supply?

Yes. FDA has approved an application allowing the sale of the AquAdvantage Salmon to consumers. The AquAdvantage Salmon has been genetically modified to reach an important growth point faster. FDA has also approved an alteration in the GalSafe pig for human food consumption and potential therapeutic uses. The GalSafe pig was developed to be free of detectable alpha-gal sugar on its cell surfaces. People with Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) may have allergic reactions to alpha-gal sugar found in red meat (e.g., beef, pork, and lamb). FDA has determined that food from the AquAdvantage Salmon and the GalSafe pig are as safe and nutritious to eat as food from non-GMO salmon and pigs.

Are GMOs used to make anything besides food?

When you hear the term "GMO" you probably think of food. However, techniques used to create GMOs are important in creating some medicines as well. In fact, genetic engineering, which is the process used to create GMOs, was first used to make human insulin, a medicine used to treat diabetes. Medicines developed through genetic engineering go through an in-depth FDA approval process. All medicines must be proven to be safe and effective before they are approved for human use. GMOs are also used in the textile industry. Some GMO cotton plants are used to create cotton fiber that is then used to make fabric for clothing and other materials.
How GMOs Are Regulated in the United States

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Many GMO crops are used to make ingredients that Americans eat such as cornstarch, corn syrup, corn oil, soybean oil, canola oil, or granulated sugar.

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 Do GMOs have an impact on the price of food?

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 Do GMOs have an impact on the price of food?

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While many factors have impacted the global food economy in the past 20 years, (climate change, a globalizing economy, changing consumer demands, and changes in the political landscape) you may be surprised to learn that GMO's have actually contributed to reducing the real cost of food

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For more than decade, we have seen an upward trend in both the cost of food and in the volatility of food prices - a trend that has put a spotlight on farming and food production and left some wondering whether the development of GMOs is in some way responsible.

It is important to recognize that the real price of food and feed products has fallen consistently during the last 50 years. This is not "out of the blue" but from enormous improvements in productivity by producers. These productivity improvements have arisen from the adoption of new technologies and techniques.

While many factors have impacted the global food economy in the past 20 years, (climate change, a globalizing economy, changing consumer demands, and changes in the political landscape) you may be surprised to learn that GMOs have actually contributed to reducing the real cost of food and play an important role in keeping prices as low as possible.

In fact, an analysis of the production and price impacts of biotech crops by Graham Brookes et al., estimated that corn-based products would be priced 6 percent higher and soybean-based products would be 10 percent higher if it weren't for GM crops.

GMO Answers reached out to an author of the study, Graham Brookes, an agricultural economist at PG Economics Ltd., U.K., to learn more about the study and asked to him explain the complicated factors driving food costs and the role GMOs play in the global food economy.
Increased Productivity
According to Brookes, the main reason why GM crops contribute to reducing the cost of food worldwide has to do with the very nature of the biotechnology involved, which helps farmers increase production thanks to herbicide and pesticide resistant crops.

In terms of productivity, Brookes says that new biotechnology has generated the equivalent of "an extra 122 million tons of soybeans, 237 million tons of corn, 18 million tons of cotton lint and 6.6 million tons of canola" between 1996 and 2012. Meanwhile, the increase in productivity goes hand in hand with savings on pesticides and fuel compared to conventional methods.

According to Brookes, these savings have more than offset the additional cost farmers incur for buying GM seeds, so much so that, "when added to the extra income arising from higher yields, the net farm income benefit from using GM technology has been equal to $116.6 billion" during that same period.
Environmental Sustainability & the Potential for Nutritionally-Fortified Foods
Looking forward, the global food system will face unprecedented challenges over the next 40 years. On the demand side, global population size will increase from 7.4 billion today to 8.5 billion by 2030, and probably to over 9.7 billion by 2050. Many people are likely to be wealthier, creating demand for a more varied, high-quality diet requiring additional resources to produce. And the poor will continue to grow poorer, as the gap between the rich and the poor continues to expand, creating challenges of its own: production, transportation, access, and environmental issues.

On the production side, competition for land, water and energy will intensify, while the effects of climate change will become more and more apparent. The need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to a changing climate will become imperative. Over this period globalization will continue, exposing the food system to new economic and political pressure.

As for the cost of food, it is important to remember that GM crops are part of the solution and not the problem. The cost of food is not just how much you pay at the grocery store. The price of food also includes the cost to the environment and the ability to have access to nutritious meals on a global scale.

Ultimately, GMO crops, through their environmental sustainability, potential for nutritionally-fortified foods, and increased productivity, actually play a key role in keeping the cost of food down, now and in the future.

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What role do GMOs play in the price of food? You may be surprised to learn that GMOs have actually contributed to reducing the real cost of food. Through improved productivity, environmental sustainability and even by nutritionally-fortifying foods - GMOs have not only reduced what you pay at the grocery store, but they have also reduced production costs for farmers and allow more people to have access to nutritious meals.

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 Do GMOs have an impact  on  the environment?

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 Do GMOs have an impact  on  the environment?

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Genetic modification produces genetically modified animals, plants and organisms. If they are introduced into the environment they can affect biodiversity. For example, existing species can be overrun by more dominant new species.

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Genetic modification produces genetically modified animals, plants and organisms. If they are introduced into the environment they can affect biodiversity. For example, existing species can be overrun by more dominant new species.

These and other potential effects are considered during the licensing procedure. (Such effects can of course also occur following the introduction of non-genetically modified animals plants and organisms.)

Assessing the impact on biodiversity requires knowledge. This knowledge must be constantly updated so the State can assess the effects of future GMOs on biodiversity. A major ecological research programme, ERGO, aimed to amass ecological knowledge, for example, on the impact of new GMOs on their environment. This research was coordinated by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO).

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Genetic modification produces genetically modified animals, plants and organisms. If they are introduced into the environment they can affect biodiversity. For example, existing species can be overrun by more dominant new species.

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How much of our food in the U.S. is genetically modified?

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How much of our food in the U.S. is genetically modified?

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It is estimated that up to 80% of processed foods contain GMOs. Meanwhile corn and soy constitute the bulk of the feed consumed by cattle, hogs and poultry, while alfalfa is a major component of feed for dairy cows. In other words: most of the animal products you eat depend on GMO's.

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Twenty years ago, the first genetically modified seeds hit the market. Since then, ethical, political, legal, environmental, economic and social concerns for the technology have emerged. With public dialogue about GMOs at a fever pitch, here's what you need to know as a concerned eater.

What are GMOs?

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are plants, animals or microorganisms whose genetic material has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally. GMO technology can introduce individual genes from one organism into another and even across species. To date, the vast majority of GMO varieties are engineered to either survive the application of herbicides and/or to generate pesticides in their tissues to kill pests, although new types - such as anti-browning apple varieties - are starting to hit the market.

Are GMOs in my food?

Yes. In the U.S., several crops are almost entirely genetically modified. These include corn, soybeans, canola, sugar beets, cotton, papaya and, to a lesser extent, alfalfa. While those items may never appear on your dinner plate, these crops are ubiquitous in our food supply.

In processed foods, they show up as sugars, syrups, oils, emulsifiers and other additives. It is estimated that up to 80% of processed foods contain GMOs.

Meanwhile corn and soy constitute the bulk of the feed consumed by cattle, hogs and poultry, while alfalfa is a major component of feed for dairy cows. In other words: most of the animal products you eat depend on GMOs.

Today, new varieties of GMO vegetables and even a new GMO salmon variety are making their way to the marketplace. In short, your grocery aisles are a veritable GMO jungle!

Are GMOs safe?

Americans hear conflicting messages from industry proponents who are adamant about GMO safety on the one hand, and on the other by consumer advocates concerned that GMOs present new food toxins, allergens or diseases. But concerned eaters should be skeptical of blanket statements about the safety of GMOs - positive or negative. Here's why:

Major federal and international agencies all say GMOs have been found to be safe to eat and current studies present no evidence of short-term health impacts. However, most research on GMOs is conducted or funded by the biotech industry and seed patents present major barriers to conducting independent studies on GMOs.
Different [GMOs] include different genes inserted in different ways. This means that individual GM foods and their safety should be assessed on a case-by-case basis and that it is not possible to make general statements on the safety of all GM foods. - World Health Organization
In fact, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) does not conduct independent research on GMOs and does not require animal or human testing - instead it makes decisions based on industry research. So, biotech companies will say that the FDA deems their products safe, while the FDA says it is up to the company to ensure the safety of the product! What's more, there's no post-marketing surveillance of GMO foods or of health impacts from their long-term consumption, despite recommendations from the National Academy of Sciences and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Major Blind Spots in Federal Regulation & Oversight

Through a so-called "coordinated framework," three different agencies - the FDA, US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - have purview over a narrow aspect of GMO review and regulation. Time has shown that this regulatory regime - one based on laws crafted long before GMOs were ever conceived - has limited our government's ability to address critical environmental and safety concerns.

For example, no agency is equipped to address GMO contamination, which has resulted in dramatic economic losses for non-GMO farmers. GMO production also goes hand-in-hand with pesticide use. The widespread application of glyphosate, known popularly as Monsanto's Roundup herbicide, in combination with Roundup Ready GMO seeds has resulted in several unintended consequences that federal agencies are not equipped to address. The accumulation of glyphosate (now deemed a probable carcinogen by the WHO) in plant tissues, residues on our foods, and new glyphosate-resistant weeds and pests are threats to farmers and eaters alike.

Another Way: The Precautionary Principle

In the U.S., we often release new technologies and products into the market before we fully understand their risks and benefits. The consequences can play out through recalls, products bans, surprise side effects or benefits, new applications for a technology, and other newsworthy nuggets.

We are still learning so much about genetics: how genes are turned on and off, whether genes can survive digestion and remain active (they can!), what environmental factors influence gene expression. Several other countries regulate GMOs with better safeguards and more rigorous examination of risk than we currently employ in the U.S.

Key Food System Concerns

Biodiversity

Genetic diversity helps species adjust to new conditions, diseases and pests, and aids ecosystems in adapting to changing environments or severe conditions like drought. The importance of genetic diversity in food systems is well illustrated by the Irish potato famine. In the 1800s, much of the Irish population depended on the "lumper" potato almost exclusively for their diet. The country was a veritable monoculture - a great vulnerability that revealed itself when blight spread through the country, devastating the crop, the Irish population and its economy.

The sheer prevalence of GMOs in major field crops threatens the genetic diversity of our food supply. New challenges like climate change create an urgency to rebuild biodiversity. Farmers need as many tools as possible to do this - right down to the genetic code. Unfortunately, extreme consolidation in the seed sector has eroded traditional public seed and breed development. At a time when farmers need more options, not fewer, these programs need to be bolstered.

Contamination

According to the International Journal of Food Contamination, almost 400 cases of GMO contamination occurred between 1997 and 2013 in 63 countries. Part of the problem is the very nature of nature. Many plants are pollinated by insects, birds or wind, allowing pollen from a GMO plant to move to neighboring fields or into the wild. This "genetic drift" illustrates the enormous difficulty in containing GMO technology. Inadequate regulation to deal with genetic drift compounds the situation.

As consumer demand for non-GMO products grows, farmers are looking for opportunities to diversify into non-GMO markets that pay higher prices or shift away from GMOs altogether. Marketplace consolidation and the failure of regulatory, storage and distribution infrastructure to properly segregate GMOs from conventional varieties continue to frustrate these options for farmers and eaters alike.

Farm Aid Recommendations

When it comes to GMOs, the status quo is failing farmers and eaters alike. Farm Aid calls for:

Transparency in our food system through mandatory GMO labeling, so people can make informed decisions about the food they eat; and build demand for non-GMO food.

Stronger independent review and oversight of GMO crops, seafood, and livestock prior to their approval and following their release into the environment and marketplace;

Antitrust enforcement in the highly concentrated private seed sector;

B iotech companies to be held accountable for GMO contamination; and

Increased funding for public plant and animal breeding to develop locally and regionally adapted seed and breed varieties.

Looking for Labels

Polls show that the vast majority of Americans favor GMO labeling, seeking more information about what's in their food and how it is grown. But while the citizens of 64 other countries enjoy GMO labeling, Americans are still left in the dark.

Without mandatory GMO labeling, it is extremely difficult to avoid GMOs. But there are a few labels that can help shoppers. Look for the following:

Under USDA's National Organic Program products labeled organic contain at least 95% organic ingredients produced or processed without synthetic growth hormones, antibiotics, pesticides, GMOs, synthetic ingredients or irradiation. Products containing at least 70% organic ingredients are labeled "made with organic ingredients," but cannot use the organic seal.

The Non-GMO Project is a non-profit organization with a third-party labeling program for products grown without using genetic engineering. They verify that food products, from seed to shelf, are produced according to their rigorous best practices for GMO avoidance.

International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD). Agriculture at a Crossroads. 2009. Island Press, Washington, DC. http://www.agassessment.org

National Research Council. 2010. The Impact of Genetically Engineered Crops on Farm Sustainability in the United States. Washington, DC: National Academies Press.

Price, B, Cotter, J. "The GM Contamination Register: a review of recorded contamination incidents associated with genetically modified organisms (GMOs), 1997-2013." International Journal of Food Contamination. Dec 2014, 1:5

Fernandez-Cornejo, J., Weschsler S.J., Livingston, M., Mitchell, L. (Feb 2014) Genetically Engineered Crops in the United States ERR-162. USDA.

World Health Organization "Frequently Asked Questions on genetically modified organisms."

- Last updated: March 17, 2016 -
Click here to download a printable PDF version of this document Read more about how GMOs affects family farmers and eaters

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GMOs - What eaters need to know - Farm Aid

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With public dialogue about GMOs at a fever pitch, Farm Aid is here to sort out the facts that you need to know as a concerned eater.

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Yes. The reason I say this is because GMO foods are carefully studied before they are sold to the public to ensure they are as safe as2 the foods we currently eat. These studies1 show that GMO's do not affect you differently than non-GMO foods.

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There's no evidence that genetically modified (GM) foods cause cancer in humans. And there aren't any good explanations for how GM foods could cause cancer. In the US, where GM foods are more common, we haven't seen more cases of cancer linked to their introduction in the 1990s.

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National Academies of Sciences E, and Medicine; Division on Earth and Life Studies; Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources; Committee on Genetically Engineered Crops: Past Experience and Future Prospects. Human Health Effects of Genetically Engineered Crops. Genetically Engineered Crops: Experiences and Prospects. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2016.

Snell C, Bernheim A, Berge JB, et al. Assessment of the health impact of GM plant diets in long-term and multigenerational animal feeding trials: a literature review. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association. 2012;50:1134-1148.

Food Standards Agency. Genetically modified foods. Vol 2019. https://www.food.gov.uk/safety-hygiene/genetically-modified-foods: FSA; 2018.

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Do genetically modified (GM) foods cause cancer?

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There's no good evidence that eating genetically modified (GM) foods or genetically modified organisms (GMOs) causes cancer in humans.