Are GMO products dangerous - myths and reality

When it comes to GMO foods, the vast majoritymost people agree that these are harmful products. After all, it’s not in vain that on some goods in stores they even specifically write “non-GMO”. Obviously, they have some advantages over those that cannot boast of such an inscription. However, not everyone understands what “GMO” is. Often this term refers to harmful food additives, hazardous chemical fertilizers, etc. In fact, this abbreviation stands for "genetically modified organisms." That is, these are any plants, animals, or even microorganisms whose genotype has undergone artificial editing through genetic engineering. Changes in the genome of plants are made in order to improve one or another of their qualities. For example, to increase yields, resistance to certain conditions in which they will be grown, resistance to diseases, pests, etc. Since the development of genetic engineering, many myths have appeared about GMO foods, many of which people still believe to this day. Let's take a look at the most common of them.

There is a lot of negative information about GMO products that is not true.

Content

• 1 Most grocery stores contain GMOs
• 2 GMOs cause cancer and other health problems
• 3 It is too early to talk about the dangers of GMOs, since products have appeared quite recently
• 4 GMO foods can cause mutations in humans
• 5 GMO foods are made for profit

Most grocery stores contain GMOs.

According to this myth, on store shelves yoube sure to meet genetically modified bananas, strawberries, bread, butter and any other products. But in fact, this is not entirely true. At present, only such foods as Hawaiian papaya, pumpkins, sweet corn, apples, tomatoes and potatoes are genetically modified. Most other genetically modified plants are used only for livestock feed.

On the shelves of stores you can find genetically modified apples that spoil less.

As far as food ingredients are concerned,meet sugar obtained from genetically modified plants, starch, rapeseed oil, as well as soy lecithin. If you see "Non-GMO" on products such as water or salt, be aware that this is just a marketing ploy. But already sweet drinks may well contain GMOs.

GMOs cause cancer and other health problems

Another myth for which there is no scientific evidence.Many studies have shown that the consumption of GMO foods does not affect health. In particular, such a study was published in 2016 by the American National Academy of Sciences of Engineering and Medicine.

Numerous studies have shown that GMOs do not cause cancer or other diseases.

In addition, in the US, the safety of GMO foodswas approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1992. In addition, dozens of agricultural scientists have studied the data for the last 20 years, and also came to the conclusion that foods containing GMOs do not cause any disease, much less lead to death.

It’s too early to talk about the dangers of GMOs, since products have appeared quite recently

Opponents of GMOs claim it is newplant breeding technology, so it’s too early to talk about its safety. However, genetic engineering does the same thing that happens in nature for millions of years. As a result of exposure to viruses and bacteria, genes were transferred between plants. That is, their DNA changed naturally.

Do not forget that people have long beguncreate new varieties of plants. Many foods that we have been consuming for decades or even hundreds of years would not have appeared in nature on their own. By crossing different plants or animals, people change their DNA. Even before the advent of genetic engineering, artificial selection made it possible to create varieties that were more resistant to diseases, more productive, etc.

By the way, genetic engineering has also ceased to bequite new. After all, the first GMOs were obtained in the early 1970s of the last century. Since then, 50 years have passed, however, not a single evidence of the harm of GMO products has appeared.

GMOs do not and cannot lead to mutations

GMO foods can cause mutations in humans

This myth is so unfounded that it is easyrefuted even without any research. According to some critics, genes from foods can infiltrate human genes and cause mutations. But if the genes of the foods we eat could actually get into our DNA so easily, any food would change them. Fortunately, human DNA, like other organisms, is well protected.

Of course, studies on this subject alsohave been repeatedly carried out, but no mutagenic properties have been identified in products with GMOs. In fact, this myth was refuted by the FDA back in 1992, as mentioned above.

GMOs are created really for profit

GMO foods are made for profit

But this is not a myth.Changes are made to the genome really in order to produce more products, as well as to ensure the safety of the already harvested crop. But the products don't get worse. For example, so that the tomato does not deteriorate, they did not even introduce foreign genes into it, but simply turned off one of their own, which I talked about earlier.

On our Yandex.Zen channel you will find even more exciting materials that have not been published on the site.

As mentioned above, plants make moreresistant to diseases and pests, which helps to prevent crop loss. By the way, there is also a benefit from this, since GMOs allow you to reduce the use of chemistry in the growing process. Finally, I note that people often pay attention to the presence of GMOs in products, but at the same time they miss points that really have a negative impact on health. For example, the detrimental effects of palm oil on health have been repeatedly proven.