Are GM Crops Safe?

Over three decades have passed since the first genetically modified (GM) crop was commercialized, and since then, hundreds of scientific organizations and thousands of studies have declared a solid and clear consensus that GM crops do not provide more risk than those developed using conventional breeding techniques. This article highlights some of these declarations, answering the question, “Are GM crops safe?”

World Health Organization

On the website of the World Health Organization (WHO), a list of questions and answers addresses the concerns of WHO Member State Governments about the nature and safety of GM food. To answer the question on the safety of GM food, WHO explains:

“GM foods currently available on the international market have passed safety assessments and are not likely to present risks for human health. In addition, no effects on human health have been shown as a result of the consumption of such foods by the general population in the countries where they have been approved. Continuous application of safety assessments based on the Codex Alimentarius principles and, where appropriate, adequate post market monitoring, should form the basis for ensuring the safety of GM foods.”

WHO also recommends assessment of GM foods on a case-by-case basis since genes are inserted in various GM organisms using different methods.

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (US)

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine of the U.S. conducted an extensive study on GM crops and concluded that new technologies in genetic engineering and conventional breeding are blurring the once clear distinctions between these two crop-improvement approaches. The researchers found that “no substantiated evidence of a difference in risks to human health between current commercially available genetically engineered (GE) crops and conventionally bred crops, nor did it find conclusive cause-and-effect evidence of environmental problems from the GE crops.”

The Royal Society (UK)

In The Royal Society’s publication titled GM Plants: Questions and Answers, studies claiming that consumption of GM foods caused damage to human or animal health were addressed. They said that these claims were not about the GM method itself, but about the specific gene introduced into the crop, or about agricultural practices linked with the crop, such as the use of herbicides. The statistical analysis and methodology of such studies have been questioned by experts. The Royal Society stated in the publication that “all reliable evidence produced to date shows that currently available GM food is at least as safe to eat as non-GM food.”

Food Standards Australia New Zealand

The website of the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) answers several questions regarding the safety assessments of GM foods dedicated to consumers. One of the questions included in their list tackles the potential long-term risks associated with the consumption of GM food. FSANZ states that, “To date, the introduction of novel DNA has not been shown to introduce any new or altered hazards into the food supply. The potential for long term risks associated with approved GM foods is no different to that for conventional foods already in the food supply. As a consequence, FSANZ does not consider that long term studies are needed to ensure the safety of GM foods.”

European Commission

The EU publication titled A Decade of EU-funded GMO Research states that “biotechnology, and in particular GMOs, are no more risky than conventional plant breeding technologies.” This conclusion is based on the evidence of more than 130 research projects, covering a period of more than 25 years of research, and involving more than 500 independent research groups.

Union of German Academics of Sciences and Humanities

The Union of German Academics of Sciences and Humanities, together with other organizations, answered the question “Are there hazards for the consumer from eating genetically modified food?” in a special report published by the Foundation for Biotechnology Awareness and Education. The report concludes that “food derived from GM plants approved in the EU and the US poses no risks greater than those from the corresponding conventional food. On the contrary, in some cases, food from GM plants appears to be superior with respect to health.”

Society of Toxicology

In 2017, the Society of Toxicology (SOT), a professional association representing over 8,200 scientists globally, released a comprehensive issue statement on the food and feed safety of GE crops. The statement, which includes five key observations on safety, substantial equivalence, and labeling, reaffirmed the safety of these crops amid public debate. The SOT asserted that regulatory authorities have thoroughly evaluated each new GE event before commercial release, emphasizing that “data from scientific studies have overwhelmingly demonstrated that foods obtained from GE crops are as safe and nutritious as foods obtained from non-GE (i.e., conventional) crops.”

American Association for the Advancement of Science

In a statement concerning the labeling of GM foods, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Board of Directors highlighted the safety consensus affirmed by numerous global organizations. The AAAS specified that the consumption of foods derived from GM crops presents no greater risk than consuming foods from crops modified through traditional breeding methods. The organization's position was also supported by a meta-analysis that established the nutritional equivalence of GM crops and their non-GM counterparts based on long-term animal feeding studies.

Conclusion

The overwhelming evidence from the world's most respected organizations, continuously reaffirmed by new data, confirms a definitive scientific consensus: the GM crops currently on the market are as safe as their conventionally bred counterparts.

With a long history of safe consumption, this biotechnology has been globally recognized by institutions as a vital tool for agriculture. It provides essential solutions for increasing food, products, and services to meet the demands of a rapidly expanding global population. The foundational safety of these crops is settled, allowing the focus to shift toward leveraging their full potential.

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