What Are GMOs – And Are They Safe?

We’re continuing the discussion on organic food. Click here to see Part I! 

The debate over GMOs (genetically modified organisms) has become so polarized that it’s almost impossible to find a balanced opinion over them. Certified organic food is guaranteed to be GMO free, and because of this, many seem to have associated GMOs with being evil and harmful for us. But why is this? If you share this belief, have you ever taken the time to research what both sides have said or have you seen one opinion and assumed it was true? I’m betting it was the latter…

So, What Are GMOs?

In spite of all the confusion and negative feeling over GMOs, a lot of people do not actually know what a GMO even is! Just take a look at this hilarious video where Jimmy Kimmel went to a farmer’s market to ask people why they avoid GMOs and what GMO stands for.

Critics of GMOs have argued that they pose health risks, adverse impacts on the environment, and cross-pollination to name a few, even though there is little evidence that backs up these claims.

I turned to Alix Turoff MS, RD, CDN, CPT again to ask her thoughts on why there seems to be a climate of fear around GMOs and she stated that she thinks the fear stems from the fact that “people [don’t] really understand what the process of genetic modification is,” and that when people hear the term “GMO,” they think of a “weird food being created in a lab when in fact, it’s not that at all.” Turoff believes that “most of the fear likely comes from lack of real education in the face of some pretty heady marketing,” which I couldn’t agree with more.

Are GMOs Safe?

90% of scientists believe GMOs are safe, which is a view endorsed by the American Medical Association, the National Academy of Sciences, the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the World Health Organization — while just over a third of consumers share this belief.

While I won’t deny the fact that more research needs to be done, there’s already been a substantial amount of research conducted on GMOs which all lead to the same conclusion — that GMOs are safe for consumption. As such, let’s review the research that has been done.

“There are no concerns over food safety of the commercially available genetically modified foods out there,” says Peggy Lemaux, Plant Biologist and Cooperative Extension at UC Berkeley. We have been eating genetically modified foods for a long time (since 1996!) and Lemaux challenges those who believe that GMOs are unsafe to provide proof. Lemaux does think that a valid issue is over environmental concerns however, and particularly overuse of a particular herbicide, Roundup. Several scientists and anti-GM groups had also warned about the dangers of overuse of the herbicide Roundup and how it would prompt the “evolution of herbicide resistance in many weeds.” 

Michele Payn-Knoper, author, No More Food Fights, has said that “farmers have seen an increase in weeds resistant to herbicides” but that “new biotech traits are being developed to compensate for this.”

Researchers at UC Davis released a landmark study in 2014 which looked at over a billion animals which found no negative health effects at all when switching from non-GMO feed to GMO feed. This study pointed out that there has not been a single human illness known to be caused by GMO food or feed. Another study stated that many of the most cited anti-GMO claims stem from the There have been so many studies done over the years and the general consensus is that GMOs are safe. So how many more studies do we need until people will take a chance and believe that the GMO foods currently out there are safe?

What are the benefits of GMOs?

To those out there who seem to have an all or nothing stance with GMOs, Lemaux asks, “Could we not meet in the middle somewhere?”

Genetic engineering offers a lot of promise in terms of reducing pesticide use, producing more food, increasing nutritional properties, and helping to combat diseases that can affect crops. Since we cannot use more land, Lemaux believes that we need to be smart by using the best tools and practices of agriculture in an environmentally sustainable manner where “genetically modified foods can be part of that equation […and] elements of organic farming.” Pedro Sanchez, director of the Agriculture and Food Security Center at Columbia University’s Earth institute thinks that GMOs are “… not the only answer, and it is not essential, but it is certainly one good thing in our arsenal.”

You Need to Make Your Own Food Choices

So what’s the bottom-line? I want to challenge you to think critically and to never take anything at face value. Make sure you research the facts using reputable sources, and understand how to interpret the results, before you come to any conclusions. I think that it is unrealistic to think of organic, non-GMO products as the only way to live a healthy life. Let’s think about eating a more balanced diet full of vegetables and fruits, eating sensible portions and eating less junk foods that are high in sugar and fat first before freaking out about GMOs and non-organic foods.

 As Nutritionist Keri Gans, RDN, Author of The Small Change Diet says, “in my opinion, organic is strictly a preference at this point, more to do with farming practices than health benefits”. Organic farming promotes sustainable farming practices which I wholeheartedly support. My issue does not lie with organic food and farming; my issue lies with those who refuse to review the evidence and who maintain a narrow view without being open to discussion and debate.

Honestly yours,
Alice

Thank you for all of your support! For more Honestly Fitness, check out my Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube & Pinterest and don’t forget to subscribe!

Disclaimer: This article was originally published in 2014 in an online publication called Fiterazzi. As Fiterazzi is no longer in publication, I wanted to update this article so that it was still relevant and re-purpose it on my blog.