Download Are GMOs Safe?

Are GMOs Safe?
Genetically modified foods (GMOs) have been popular in the news lately ever
since California failed to pass Prop 37, which would have required the
labeling of GMO ingredients on all products sold within the state. While
California may be setting the stage for the discussion of future labeling of
GMO foods in our country, currently there is no regulation anywhere in the
United States requiring the disclosure of GMO ingredients to consumers. This
is in contrast to countries such as those in Europe and South America, who
highly regulate the cultivation and sale of genetically modified crops and often
require the labeling of foods that contain GMO ingredients (1, 2). In America,
unless you buy certified non-GMO food, there is no way to know if your food
contains GMOs or not.
So why does it matter if our food contains GMOs? You may have heard from
various media sources that genetically modified foods are perfectly safe and
there is no evidence to suggest any long term risk from their consumption. On
the contrary, there has been some evidence suggesting potential health risks
caused by these foods; even scientists within the FDA itself have repeatedly
warned that GM foods can create unpredictable, hard-to-detect side effects,
including allergies, toxins, new diseases, and nutritional problems. (3, 4) With
so much conflicting information, it’s hard to tell fact from fiction. Are GMOs
safe for human consumption, or not?
What is Genetic Modification?
Genetic modification involves the transfer of genes from one species of plant
or animal to another, using techniques that can cause mutations in the
genome that may have unintended consequences for the crop’s safety. (5)
The imprecise rearrangement of genes can create new proteins in these
plants that may trigger allergies or promote disease. (6) Our immune systems
often do not recognize these new proteins and may mount an immune attack
against them if they enter our bloodstream intact. These unintended gene
transfers, along with those that are intended, can lead to significant changes
in gut and immune function, and may have long-term consequences that are
not yet known to the scientific and medical communities.
In genetically modified corn and cotton, a gene from a bacteria called Bt
(Bacillus thuringiensis) is inserted, which causes a pesticidal toxin to be
produced in every cell of the plant. This Bt-toxin kills insects that eat the plant
by breaking down its gut lining and killing the insect from septicemia caused
by the ensuing blood infection. (7) While this toxin has not been proven to be
toxic in this way for humans and other mammals, several recent studies have
suggested this toxin could have effects on immune health, gut health, liver
and kidney function, and fertility.
The potential dangers of GMOs
The gut is most susceptible to the potential dangers of GMO consumption. Bt
toxin produced by GMO corn has been shown to significantly alter immune
function in mice, and may cause disrupted immune function in the gut. (8, 9,
10) One study suggested that Bt toxin has toxic effects on human cells in
vitro, causing them to die prematurely. (11) This could cause damage to gut
endothelial cells if the toxicity is found to occur in vivo. The potential intestinal
effects of GMO consumption go beyond Bt toxin. Some argue that gut
bacteria are capable of acquiring DNA sequences from GM plants, which
could lead to the development of antibiotic resistance in those microbes. (12)
It’s not yet fully understood what proportion of the GM genes are able to be
transferred to gut microbiota.
There have been effects of GM corn found on organs outside of the intestinal
system as well. Analysis of Monsanto’s own research and independent
research by a lab in France determined that mice and rats eating Bt-toxin
producing corn sustained liver and kidney damage. (13, 14) Other harmful
effects were also noticed in the heart, adrenal glands, spleen and
hematopoietic system of these GM corn-fed rats. Bt toxin has also been
demonstrated to reduce fertility in mice, with fewer offspring being produced
than by mice fed on natural crops. (15) While these are small, preliminary
studies, it’s worth investigating the effects GMOs can have on other organs
besides the intestines.
Since the research is in its infancy, GMOs may have associated health risks
that we do not fully understand. The organization known as The Institute for
Responsible Technology has developed a list of potential hazards of GMO
consumption, providing a list of references for each health risk discussed.
They have amassed a great deal of support for their position that GMOs are
dangerous, and much of their information comes from research studies,
clinical experience from doctors, and anecdotal evidence from farmers and
parents of children who thrived on a GMO-free diet. (Unfortunately, the
website’s statements exaggerate the findings of several studies, so it’s best to
be a critical thinker and take the information with a grain of salt.)
Why is there still controversy?
Recent reviews have proposed a different story when it comes to GMO safety,
arguing that the bulk of the evidence demonstrates no health risks associated
with GMO consumption. (16, 17, 18) These reviews found GMOs to be
generally safe with no multigenerational effects, but also recommended that
more research continue to be performed on the health effects of GMO
consumption in mammals. It’s interesting to note, however, that the majority of
the studies considered by these reviews had been conducted by
biotechnology companies responsible for commercializing these GM plants;
this conflict of interest could have an effect on the reporting of certain data.
That said, there’s no denying the fact that independent critical reviews have
so far found GMOs to be safe in food.
Unfortunately, credible research demonstrating the potential dangers of
GMOs is not only sparse, it is also inconsistent. While many scientists argue
that GMOs are unsafe for human consumption, there are many more
scientists who suggest that the evidence to date has not found any significant
health risks from ingesting GMOs. It’s impossible to tell at this point who has
the right answer, and it’s unnerving that there is so much controversy over the
safety of a food product that is present in 60 to 70 percent of processed foods
found in grocery stores. (19)
A verdict on GMOs?
There hasn’t been nearly enough research performed on GMOs to make an
informed decision on their safety. However, lack of proof is not proof against.
While the available evidence is still mixed, it seems likely that genetically
modified foods could have an effect on the immune response as well as the
permeability of the gut. Whether or not this leads to an increase in disease is
yet to be determined. However, if regular consumption of GMOs is able to
cause leaky gut, it could play a role in the recent dramatic rise in obesity,
diabetes, allergies, autoimmune disease, and infertility in our country.
I’m no conspiracy theorist, but I think there is enough inconsistency in the
available evidence to support the removal of GMOs from your diet.
Fortunately, purchasing certified non-GMO or organic foods and eating a
whole-foods or Paleo diet will allow you to steer clear of most GMO foods on
the market. Until more legitimate research is conducted, I believe it’s better to
be safe than sorry and avoid genetically modified foods as much as possible