The answer is: YES.
Food from GMOs (genetically modified organisms, or bio-technologically modified crops) is digested into the body the same as any other type of food product including organic and/or non-GM crops. Hundreds and hundred of studies (and those ongoing) demonstrate that improved crops do not present any health risk.1 Before they reach the market, crops from GM seeds are studied extensively to make sure they are safe for people, animals and the environment. Today’s GM products are the most researched and tested agricultural products in history. Not only do they NOT cause new allergies or cancers, infertility, ADHD or any other diseases, but in the decades that farmers have been growing crops from GM seeds, there has not been a single documented instance of harm to human health resulting from genetic modifications, including new allergic reactions.
Same As It Never Was
Foods from genetically modified seeds meet the same safety & nutritional requirements as foods from traditionally bred plants. That in itself is somewhat ironic since “No commercially available crops in the US were created by nature alone. Humans, over our history, have altered all of our crops, often for taste or yield or disease resistance.” 2
That being said, biotech crops on the market today are the same as their non-GM counterparts. Genetically modified corn is the same as non-GM corn, from a compositional and nutritional standpoint. FDA testing has confirmed that bio-technologically modified crops are nutritionally the same as non-GM crops, including the same levels of key nutrients like amino acids, proteins, fiber, minerals and vitamins.3
Safe AND Improved Nutrition
Not only are modified seeds and crops as safe as non-GM foods, but by improving crops additional vitamins and nutrients can be added. A new generation of GM crops (Golden Rice) delivers vitamin A enhanced rice, high carotene mustard seed oil, Vitamin A enhanced cassava, enriched sweet potatoes and even edible vaccines. This is just one example some of the innovations awaiting approval.4 What other nutritional improvements does the future hold?
GMO is NOT A Four Letter Word
Somewhere along the way, the term GMO has taken on negative connotations. Genetically modifying crops to make them cheaper, more resistant to disease, pests, drought and requiring less chemicals for greater storage times has been going on for centuries. No produce you can buy in the store today has not been spliced with other strains in some way to make it better. Not one. Yet some people practically spit out the word “GMO”. Bio-technologically improved crops and seeds are not only cheaper, but safer, or as safe, as any other type of products out there and we need more food than ever to feed our growing world population. In 25 years of independent research, there has never been a documented safety issue from modified seeds.5
At Cansler Consulting we understand that in Washington, D.C. change is the only constant. Advocacy in Washington is also changing and we are at the forefront using new technologies and data to help us focus on strategies that improve our client's return on investment. Our core lobbying strategies are driven by the value at stake from federal legislative & regulatory actions. Leading studies indicate that today's business value impacted by government and regulatory action, or inaction can reach as high as 30 percent of earnings for most companies.
With as much as one-third of earnings at stake, it is imperative that companies, industries and organizations engage in government relations.
If you need effective representation from a bipartisan, entrepreneurial government relations firm contact Cansler Consulting. We are certified by the National Institute of Lobbying and Ethics and have decades of experience assisting clients in issue areas including Agriculture, Budget & Appropriations, Food Safety, Transportation & Infrastructure, International Trade and Energy. Through our relationships established in Washington, D.C. and throughout the U.S. for over two decades we can help you the legislative and regulatory processes on Capitol Hill and inside federal agencies. You can contact us at
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- http://gmoanswers.com/explore [↩]
- http://gmoanswers.com/explore [↩]
- http://gmoanswers.com/explore [↩]
- source: Plant Physiology, Journal of American College of Nutrition, Gates Foundation [↩]
- sources: National Research Council, European Commission [↩]
