They comprise 90% of soy, cotton, and corn grown in the United States and are deemed safe for human consumption. GMOs are food items that have been made using genetic engineering techniques. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and USDA maintain that GMOs are safe for human and animal consumption ( 6). While GMO crops make farming much easier, there is some concern around their potential effect on the environment and their safety for human consumption - specifically surrounding illnesses and allergies ( 5). In fact, it’s estimated that up to 80% of foods in supermarkets contain ingredients that come from genetically modified crops. GMO crops are incredibly common in the United States, with at least 90% of soy, cotton, and corn being grown through genetic techniques ( 4). By making this toxin, the corn is able to resist pests, reducing the need for pesticides ( 3). Genetic modification significantly accelerates this process by using scientific techniques that give the plant the specific desired trait.įor example, one of the most common GMO crops is Bt corn, which is genetically modified to produce the insecticide Bt toxin. Also, breeders may struggle to determine which genetic change has led to a new trait. While it’s possible to naturally give foods desirable traits through selective breeding, this process takes many generations.
In the food industry, GMO crops have had genes added to them for various reasons, such as improving their growth, nutritional content, sustainability, pest resistance, and ease of farming ( 2). “GMO,” which stands for genetically modified organism, refers to any organism whose DNA has been modified using genetic engineering technology.