The GMO Food Label
Having a conversation about GMOs is difficult because there is widespread ignorance and confusion around the topic.
Even medical practitioners often lack a clue about GMOs or how to advise their patients who ask about them.
Considering this, here are some things that you should tell your patients about the GMO food label.
GMO Does Not Translate to Healthy
Current research does not universally support the claim that genetically modified (GM) crops have lower nutritional value than non-GM crops; nutritional content can vary based on specific crop modifications and growing conditions.
The FDA, along with other regulatory agencies worldwide, requires that GM foods undergo safety evaluations, including assessments for potential toxicological and allergenic effects, before they are marketed.
Genetic engineering allows for specific changes to be made to an organism’s DNA. While any form of plant breeding can cause unintended changes, genetic engineering is considered precise in its ability to target specific traits. All GM crops undergo rigorous safety assessments.
Genetically Modified Foods are Not New
Humans have been modifying crops for thousands of years through selective breeding or hybridization. All common varieties of corn, for example, were created by humans through cross-pollination from wild grass species called teosintes.
Up until recently, farmers’ biggest change to plant characteristics was cross-breeding them with other plants to create desired traits, such as making corn sweeter or more resistant to pests.
There’s No Evidence That GMO Food is Unsafe
Genetically modified foods are one of the safest forms of food on the market today.
The National Academy of Sciences has found that “no adverse health effects attributed to genetic engineering have been documented in the human population.
Most Processed Food Contains GMO Ingredients
The rapid growth of the processed food industry means that virtually any packaged food on the grocery store shelf will contain at least some genetically modified ingredients.
However, most foods with a label that states they’re “natural” or “all-natural” are not guaranteed to be GMO-free, so you’ll need to carefully read each ingredient list to ensure that you’re buying truly all-natural foods.
Many GMOs are Engineered with Patents on Them
While many GMOs are patented, this is not exclusive to genetically modified organisms. Both conventional and genetically modified seeds can be patented, but the existence of a patent does not inherently restrict traditional farming practices or the use of the seeds for planting.
Regulatory bodies, not the biotech industry alone, are responsible for determining the safety of GMO products. In the United States, the FDA, USDA, and EPA all regulate GMOs, requiring extensive safety testing before commercial release.
This policy is called “substantial equivalence,” but it lacks common sense and logic, making it less substantial.
GMOs are Safe to Eat
Most of the doctors I talked with said that GMOs are safe for human consumption.
They emphasized that our bodies have always been exposed to alterations in our genetic makeup through natural processes like evolution or cross-breeding.
They also noted that genetic engineering is an exact process that allows scientists to isolate specific genes and introduce them into the DNA of another organism rather than messing up everything at once.
Extensive Research Has Been Conducted on GMOs
These researches involve numerous independent and industry-funded studies. Regulatory agencies worldwide require comprehensive safety data before approving GM crops for cultivation and food use.
Various stakeholders, including academic and government researchers, can conduct GMO studies. The FDA regulates the safety of foods and food ingredients, including those derived from GMOs, but it does not grant permits for human research based on patent control.
The FDA has granted thousands of these permits since 1992, but those studies have been conducted by scientists who work for these companies and often have conflicts of interest.
Final Thoughts
Food labels are designed to help us make informed choices about what we eat, but for many, the labels can become as confusing as a game of “Where’s Waldo?”
For the average person, a quick look at their cereal box or breakfast bar reveals a list of ingredients so long they might feel a sense of dread.
Letting your patients know what we have discussed here will make them more informed about their consumption.
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