Ask the Expert
Health Organization (WHO) and multiple medical and health organizations have concluded there is currently no evidence to support the belief that GMO foods pose a human health risk, many activist groups have taken a strong stance against their production and consumption. The differ- ing opinions of these groups make it dif- ficult for families to make a well-informed decision on GMOs. As a parent, you may be asking yourself what exactly are GMOs, why foods need to be modified and whether you should be concerned about GMOs.
Why Foods Are Genetically Modified The WHO defines GMOs as organisms that have been genetically altered in a way that doesn’t occur naturally. Common foods that are genetically engineered in the U.S. include corn, soy, canola and sugar beets. The U.S. National Library of Medicine states there are many potential benefits of genetically engineered foods including:
* Longer shelf life. Additionally, these foods may have added nutritional value through genetic modification. An example of this includes golden rice, which has the potential to be engineered with a high-beta-carotene content that aids with good vision and eye health.
* Disease- and drought-resistant plants. * Decreased use of pesticides. * Increased food supply.
Concern About GMOs in Your Family’s Diet Potential risks of GMOs may include modified plants or animals that have undergone unexpected genetic changes.
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Opponents to GMOs may state that such foods have the potential to:
* Increase the risk of food allergy and toxicity.
* Increase antibiotic resistance. Although there is the potential for public health benefits from GMOs, it is important to evaluate possible negative effects on human health. As compared to conventional foods, there are often additional testing systems in place to evaluate genetically modified foods on both humans and the environment. The WHO states that test-
* Decrease nutritional value.
ing may focus on the direct health effects of the GMOs (toxicity), the possibility of an allergic reaction, compo- nents which are considered to have nutritional or toxic properties, gene stability and any unintended effects from gene insertion. Testing is done on a case-by-case basis as each GMO may have genes inserted in differ- ent ways. Currently the FDA, the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Depart- ment of Agriculture (USDA) are all involved in genetically modified testing and regulation in the U.S. It’s difficult for parents to
weed out fact versus fiction about the safety of GMO con- sumption. For example, GMOs have been part of our diet for many years, and there has been no scientific
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