Academies of Science finds GMOs not harmful to human health

[Independent voter]

Yeah, it's pretty much another vaccine scare or global warming denial, people not knowing science.

And even after the Academy of Sciences released the report, they were attacked by anti-GMO groups, just like climate change scientists are.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2...food/84458872/

SAN FRANCISCO — Genetically engineered crops are safe for humans and animals to eat and have not caused increases in cancer, obesity, gastrointestinal illnesses, kidney disease, autism or allergies, an exhaustive report from the National Academies of Science released Tuesday found.

Work on the 388-page report began two years ago and was conducted by a committee of more than 50 scientists, researchers and agricultural and industry experts convened by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. It reviewed more than 900 studies and data covering the 20 years since genetically modified crops were first introduced.

Overall, genetically engineered (GE) crops saved farmers in the United States money but didn’t appear to increase crop yields. They have lowered pest populations in some areas, especially in the Midwest but increased the number of herbicide-resistant weeds in others. There’s also no evidence that GE crops have affected the population of monarch butterflies, the report said.

The review was thorough and systemic, assessing many of the issues that have been raised about genetically engineered crops over the years, said Gregory Jaffe, director of biotechnology at the non-profit watchdog group the Center for Science in the Public Interest in Washington D.C. The group was not involved in the report's creation.

The genetic material of GE plants is artificially manipulated to give them characteristics they would not otherwise have. The two most common are pest resistance and the ability to withstand certain herbicides. That allows farmers to spray fields with herbicide, killing weeds while not harming the crops. Drought tolerant traits are newer and also becoming popular.

The report, "Genetically Engineered Crops: Experiences and Prospects," was meant to be an objective overview of current research into the safety and environmental and social effects of these increasingly popular crops and the foods made from them.

Safe for humans

To gauge whether foods made from genetically modified crops were safe for human consumption, the committee compared disease reports from the United States and Canada, where such crops have been consumed since the mid-1990s, and those in the United Kingdom and western Europe, where they are not widely eaten.

No long-term pattern of increase in specific health problems after the introduction of GE foods in the 1990s in the United States and Canada was found.

There was no correlation between obesity or Type II diabetes and the consumption of GE foods. Celiac disease, which makes humans intolerant of gluten, increased in both populations. Patterns in the increase in autism spectrum disorder in children were similar in both the United Kingdom and the United States, the committee reported

Economic and ecological effects

Overall, the report found that GE crops save farmers money in terms of time spent tilling and losses to weeds and insects, but can have both positive and negative effects on pests, farming practices and agricultural infrastructure.

Pest-resistant crops have resulted in lower pest populations overall in some areas of the midwest, especially European corn borer, the report found.

However the use of herbicides on GE crops in some areas has resulted in the evolution of herbicide-resistant weeds.

Despite claims by some proponents of GE crops, their adoption didn't appear to increase yields overall among U.S. farmers, the report found.

The report specifically addressed a commonly cited link between GE crops and falling populations of monarch butterflies.

As of March 2016, there was no evidence that the suppression of milkweed (the only food of the insect in its caterpillar state) by the use of herbicides caused declines in the monarch population, the committee found. In fact, the monarch population has seen a moderate increase in the past two years. Still, the report called for continued monitoring of the situation.

Mostly cotton, soy and corn

There are only 12 genetically modified (GM) crops grown commercially grown worldwide according to the report. The vast majority of GM acreage is concentrated in cotton, soybeans, corn, sugar beets and canola.

In the United States, the list of commercially grown GM crops includes cotton, soy beans, corn, sugar beets, canola, alfalfa and papaya, in addition to small amounts of zucchini and yellow summer squash, apples and potatoes.

However four of them are extremely popular with farmers. In 2015, 99% of sugar beets, 94% of soybeans, 94% of cotton and 92% of feed corn grown in the United States were genetically engineered to either be herbicide or pest resistant, or in some cases both, according to the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications.

Globally, 12% of all cropland is planted with genetically engineered plants, according to the report.

However there has been significant pushback against these crops, particularly in Europe.

GMO-free a selling point

A significant portion of American consumers are concerned about the safety or other effects of foods made with genetically modified crops, often called GMOs for genetically modified organisms.. A survey released last year by the NPD Group, a market research firm, found that 57% of Americans were concerned that genetically modified foods posed a health hazard.

The food industry has taken notice. In 2015, Progressive Grocer, a trade publication, reported that total U.S. sales of food and beverage products labeled “non-GMO” reached $10 billion during 2014.

Labeling foods as GMO-free has become a popular marketing and differentiation method for companies. The Non-GMO Project, a labeling program, has almost 35,000 verified products, according to its website.

Packaged Facts estimates that the global food and beverage market was worth more than $5 trillion in 2014 and that non-GMO products accounted for $550 billion of that. It projects that the global market for non-GMO foods and beverages will reach to $1 trillion by 2019.

The National Academies report will likely not sway these consumers, said Phil Lempert, a Los Angeles-based food industry analyst.

“It’s an emotional issue, it’s not a science issue,” he said.

[dd614]

Many GMO activists are absolutely nutty. I was speaking to one on twitter about a year ago who called GMO food the most evil thing on Earth.

[Kujako]

Which GMOs? They are not a single thing.... they are many if not infinite. If I genetically alter an egg to contain a lethal dose of cyanid (while trying to make an apple hash egg), it's not safe. Thus not all GMOs are safe.

[Reeve]

Which GMOs? They are not a single thing.... they are many if not infinite. If I genetically alter an egg to contain a lethal dose of cyanid (while trying to make an apple hash egg), it's not safe. Thus not all GMOs are safe.

They're saying GMOs as a class don't have any more risks than any other type of food. So while you could say, "This plant is dangerous," it's completely unhelpful to say, "These plants are GMO, so they may be dangerous."

[unbound]

Which GMOs? They are not a single thing.... they are many if not infinite. If I genetically alter an egg to contain a lethal dose of cyanid (while trying to make an apple hash egg), it's not safe. Thus not all GMOs are safe.

And the straw man arguments begin...

[Independent voter]

Which GMOs? They are not a single thing.... they are many if not infinite. If I genetically alter an egg to contain a lethal dose of cyanid (while trying to make an apple hash egg), it's not safe. Thus not all GMOs are safe.

Hmmm, random internet dude or National Academies of Sciences? Who to believe?....

What are your views on vaccines?

[Kujako]

They're saying GMOs as a class don't have any more risks than any other type of food. So while you could say, "This plant is dangerous," it's completely unhelpful to say, "These plants are GMO, so they may be dangerous."

And I'm saying it is equally unhelpful/meaningless to say "these plants are GMO, so they must be safe". Has to be on a case by case basis. What's more, my main issue is the whole copyright nonsense that GMP brings with it. Though I do find bubblegum flavored apples suspicious....

[Cybran]

Americans should continue to eat their GMOs and die younger. Europe should continue to ban them.

[Anastacy]

Which GMOs? They are not a single thing.... they are many if not infinite. If I genetically alter an egg to contain a lethal dose of cyanid (while trying to make an apple hash egg), it's not safe. Thus not all GMOs are safe.

Well, yeah...if you go out of your way to make something lethal, it will be lethal. Is anyone suggesting otherwise?

[Reeve]

And I'm saying it is equally unhelpful/meaningless to say "these plants are GMO, so they must be safe". Has to be on a case by case basis. What's more, my main issue is the whole copyright nonsense that GMP brings with it. Though I do find bubblegum flavored apples suspicious....

If you test a plant, regardless of whether or not it's GMO, and determine it to be dangerous, great. We'll handle that, either through banning it or labeling it.

Until then, slapping a label on everything GMO that comes to market is just helping people to make bad decisions based on misinformation and fear. Like putting a label on vaccines saying, "May cause autism" because every vaccine is different and we just want to be sure everyone can make their own choices.

[Kalis]

Americans should continue to eat their GMOs and die younger. Europe should continue to ban them.

On average Bulgarians live to 74, Americans live to 78.

The British to 81, not all Europeans are equal.

[Reeve]

We in Europe do NOT want this GMO crap here. I don't care how much they say they're good to go, I'd MUCH rather have all natural food.

Better stop eating broccoli, brussels sprouts, corn, bananas, cabbage, kale, beef, and most of the other foods you probably eat then.

[Lenonis]

The term GMO is just flat out too broad. Not all GMO modification are the same and it's folly to try to claim all GMO food will impact someone the same way.

I do not, however, agree with or like the desire to keep all this stuff secret. You don't have to give out trade secrets but people should have a right to know what they are eating and how it was made. I would also recommend a healthy dose of PSA info about what it actually is and does to get people educated and not just have a knee-jerk reaction to the "scary" food.

[Belize]

We in Europe do NOT want this GMO crap here. I don't care how much they say they're good to go, I'd MUCH rather have all natural food.

Enjoy having your produce covered in Dicamba and other pesticides then. GMO can make ctops insect resistent.

Sorry, Dicamba is a herbicide, but crops are made resistant to that too, so the point still stands.

[Beazy]

Ive been eating GMO Oranges since like. . 82.

And so have all of you. You just didnt know it.

[dr2022]

GMO scare is ridiculous. All they did is sped up the evolution process of a plant, like bananas and corn, to a point where it has the specific qualities that we need.

[Cybran]

On average Bulgarians live to 74

Gypsies live around 60, so they bring down our average. Once they move to Britain it will go up.

[Graeham]

...and the same thing was stated about cigarettes and asbestos once as well. Time will tell whether or not GMO's are harmless or harmful. As others have already stated the term 'GMO' is just too broad. What, specifically, are they referring to? Each and every GMO product out there? I find that very unlikely.

There's also plenty of horror stories out there regarding big businesses putting profit before safety so it's hardly a surprise for many people to be skeptical about potential health risks. Even putting that aside people have the right to pick and choose what, exactly, they consume.

[Kalis]

Gypsies live around 60, so they bring down our average. Once they move to Britain it will go up.

We have the Scottish bringing our average age down.

Regardless, Bulgarians die younger than Americans, perhaps you need some GMO foods to raise it up a bit.

[TZucchini]

We in Europe do NOT want this GMO crap here. I don't care how much they say they're good to go, I'd MUCH rather have all natural food.

From the article:

The National Academies report will likely not sway these consumers, said Phil Lempert, a Los Angeles-based food industry analyst.

Predictable. You can't sway unreasonable people with logic and reason.