Are GMOs safe to eat?
Yes. There is no evidence that a crop is dangerous to eat just because it is GM. There could be risks associated with the specific new gene introduced, which is why each crop with a new characteristic introduced by GM is subject to close scrutiny.
What are examples of GMOs?
What GMO crops are grown and sold in the United States?
- Corn: Corn is the most commonly grown crop in the United States, and most of it is GMO.
- Soybean: Most soy grown in the United States is GMO soy.
- Cotton:
- Potato:
- Papaya:
- Summer Squash:
- Canola:
- Alfalfa:
How do GMOs help farmers?
GMO crops that are tolerant to herbicides help farmers control weeds without damaging the crops. When farmers use these herbicide-tolerant crops they do not need to till the soil, which they normally do to get rid of weeds. This no-till planting helps to maintain soil health and lower fuel and labor use.
How are GMOs tested for safety?
GM foods are tested in a variety of ways for their potential to cause allergies, including a gastric acid simulation to see how easily the novel food would be digested by humans.
How are GMOs tested before being released to human consumption?
Next, GM products are examined by regulatory agencies around the world. Under the Framework, the USDA evaluates whether the plant is safe to grow, the FDA evaluates whether the food derived from GM plants are safe to eat, and the EPA evaluates certain GM plants that are resistant to pests for environmental safety.
Do GMOs have to be labeled?
Any product that intentionally contains bioengineered ingredients needs to have a label. If a product inadvertently has at least 5% bioengineered material it needs a label. This is a higher concentration amount than most other countries that have GMO labels.
Why are GMOs in our food?
Why do farmers use GMO crops? Most of the GMO crops grown today were developed to help farmers prevent crop loss. The three most common traits found in GMO crops are: Resistance to insect damage.