the story behind GMOs:
tested, trustworthy and backed by science

Genetically modified foods are scientifically designed to improve health, reduce waste, and support a more sustainable food system.

What if some of the most heavily researched foods on the market were also the most misunderstood?

GMOs, or genetically modified organisms, are a perfect example. With all the messaging out there encouraging people to ‘go GMO-free,’ it’s understandable if you’re unsure what to think. Many shoppers feel guilty or worried if they choose foods without a ‘GMO-free’ label, but here’s the truth: GMO foods are among the most thoroughly tested and researched in the world. They’re designed not only for safety but also to help make food accessible, affordable, and sustainable for everyone.

A gloved hand uses tweezers to hold a small plant with roots over a petri dish, hinting at the meticulous processes behind ensuring food is safe to eat. In the background, several plants are neatly arranged in glass containers.
Close-up of a corn ear with green husks in a field, surrounded by tall leaves and stalks—showcasing the care taken in conventional farming to meet food safety standards.

GMOs undergo more rigorous testing than almost any other food available.

In the U.S. and Canada, multiple independent agencies—including the FDA, USDA, Health Canada, and the EPA—review GMOs before they reach the market. Each GMO trait goes through years of trials and assessments, with studies that ensure both health and environmental safety. As a result, there are only a handful of primary GMO traits for crops like corn. These thorough measures have led to an overwhelming scientific consensus: GMO foods are as safe as their non-GMO counterparts.

But GMOs offer benefits that go beyond safety—they’re also tools for better nutrition and more sustainable farming. For example, some GMO crops are designed to provide key nutrients, like Golden Rice, which is fortified with beta-carotene to address Vitamin A deficiency, a leading cause of blindness and death in parts of the world. And while GMOs are developed in labs, genetic modification has been happening naturally in the environment over the last several centuries, through crossbreeding and cross-pollination. Sweet potatoes, modern bananas, and even all brassica vegetables (like cabbage, broccoli, and kale) have been naturally modified over time.

A plate of grilled meat with boiled potatoes and a fresh salad of lettuce, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and dill garnish showcases the bounty made possible by precision agriculture. This method optimizes the use of pesticides and fertilizers in farming for sustainable harvests.

The difference is that lab-based genetic modification allows scientists to precisely target traits that benefit both farmers and consumers, and to conduct rigorous safety testing that isn’t possible with natural crossbreeding. This process means that GMO foods can be made more predictable, reliable, and nutritious.

GMOs are tools for producing food that’s safe, sustainable, and accessible. Growing GMO crops can reduce the need for fertilizers, pesticides, and tillage, which helps support a healthier planet. At the end of the day, regardless of the choices you make, you can feel confident that the food on your plate meets strict safety standards and contributes to a reliable, diverse food system that supports both farmers and families.

A variety of fruits, nuts, seeds, and vegetables arranged on a wooden table, including berries, avocados, citrus, kiwi, and melons—each carefully selected to meet top food safety standards ensuring you can trust the quality and freshness of what you eat.
Close-up of rice grains with husks, displaying a mix of translucent and golden tones, inviting reflections on how to trust the food I eat.
Golden rice could prevent more than 3 million childhood deaths each year. Imagine saving the entire population of Chicago annually.
Close-up of young green crop rows in a field, highlighting the robust growth and health that make food safe to eat, with focus on the middle rows and a blurred background.
One acre of zero-tilled soil can sequester about one ton of carbon. Using GMO crops helps us achieve this, turning farmland into a valuable carbon sink.
A gloved hand holds a petri dish with a small green sprout and soil, symbolizing the question, "What makes food safe to eat?" A microscope is visible in the blurred background.
People believe GMO foods cause allergies, cancer, or celiac disease—none of which are true. In fact, GMO foods undergo more rigorous testing than most other foods on the market. Check out studies from the FAO, WHO and others on the Resources page.
A stack of legal documents is placed next to a wooden gavel on a table, resembling the careful deliberation needed in addressing regulations related to pesticides and fertilizers in farming.
Today’s food safety regulations in the U.S. alone involve over 35 federal statutes, 28 House and Senate committees, and four major government agencies, all working to keep our food safe.
Gloved hands delicately wield a tool to excavate human skeletal remains, reminding us of the precision required in understanding facts about food safety standards to trust the food we eat.
Scientists have found evidence of selective breeding and crossbreeding by humans as early as 8000 BCE.
A close-up of a pile of yellow corn kernels, displaying their texture and varied shapes, showcases the basics that reassure us why GMOs are safe.
In a recent study analyzing 40 years of data on Bt corn, researchers found that corn borers were suppressed by more than 90 percent.
Close-up of the word Research highlighted in green on a printed page, surrounded by other blurred text. This focus reflects an inquiry into What makes food safe to eat? and Why are GMOs safe?, shedding light on how to trust the food I eat.
Hundreds of research projects covering a period of more than 25 years and involving more than 500 independent research groups have confirmed that GMOs post no greater risk than conventional plant breeding technology.
Two small blue flags with the World Health Organization emblem on golden stands, symbolizing global commitment to questions like "What makes food safe to eat?" and ensuring that practices, whether conventional or innovative like GMOs, prioritize safety.
GMO foods are as safe as non-GMO foods according to a substantial body of evidence and overwhelming scientific consensus, including the AMA and the WHO.
A hand stacks coins on a solar panel, with four additional stacks of decreasing height in the background, symbolizing investments in sustainable practices. Just as we question "What makes food safe to eat?", this scene invites reflection on energy sources and their long-term reliability.
Are you paying $1 more for non-GMO bread? You’ve been had…all North American bread is non-GMO because there’s no GMO wheat in our food supply!

References

Allied Health Microbiology. (2019). Whole genome methods and pharmaceutical applications of genetic engineering. Oregon State University. https://open.oregonstate.education/microbiology/chapter/12-1whole-genome-methods-and-pharmaceutical-applications-of-genetic-engineering

Basu, S., et al. (2019). Estimation of global insulin use for type-2 diabetes, 2018-30: A microsimulation analysis. The Lancet: Diabetes & Endocrinology, 7(1), 25-33. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-8587(18)30303-6

Benjamin, J., et al. (2024). Cereal production in Africa: The threat of certain pests and weeds in a changing climate—a review. Agriculture & Food Security, 10(1), 5. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40066-024-00470-8

Bruins, M. (2023, February 22). You are myth taken: GMOs. Seed World. https://www.seedworld.com/europe/2023/02/22/you-are-myth-taken-gmos/

Dively, G., et al. (2018, March 13). 40 years of data show Bt corn significantly reduces pests, spraying and crop damage. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2018/03/13/40-years-of-data-show-bt-corn-significantly-reduces-pests-spraying-and-crop-damage-including-in-nearby-non-gmo-fields/

International Rice Research Institute. (2018). Golden rice FAQs. International Rice Research Institute. https://www.irri.org/golden-rice-faqs

Keats, E. C., et al. (2019). Improved micronutrient status and health outcomes in low- and middle-income countries following large-scale fortification: Evidence from a systematic review and meta-analysis. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 110(4), 1102-1110. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqz075

Livescience Tech. (2018, April 30). What is CRISPR and how does it work? Livescience Tech. https://www.livescience.tech/2018/04/30/what-is-crispr-how-does-it-work-is-it-gene-editing/

Locklear, M. (2022, July 5). Insulin is an extreme financial burden for over 14% of Americans who use it. Yale News. https://news.yale.edu/2022/07/05/insulin-extreme-financial-burden-over-14-americans-who-use-it

McKie, R. (2024, May 25). A catastrophe: Greenpeace blocks planting of life-saving golden rice. The Guardian. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/a-catastrophe-greenpeace-blocks-planting-of-lifesaving-golden-rice/ar-BB1n2irz

Moore, P. (2013, November 22). Allow golden rice now! YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MCtVqmCoI8

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2016, May 17). Genetically engineered crops: Experiences and prospects – New report. National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine. https://www.nationalacademies.org/news/2016/05/genetically-engineered-crops-experiences-and-prospects-new-report

National Library of Medicine. (2022, July 30). Genetically modified organisms – GMOs. MedLine Plus. https://www.medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002432.htm

Norris, M. L. (2015, August 10). Will GMOs hurt my body? The public’s concerns and how scientists have addressed them. Harvard University. https://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2015/will-gmos-hurt-my-body/

Perlak, F. J., et al. (1993, May 1). Genetically improved potatoes: Protection from damage by Colorado potato beetles. Plant Molecular Biology, 22(1), 145-153. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00014938

Romeis, J., et al. (2019). Genetically engineered crops help support conservation biological control. Biological Control, 130, 136-145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2018.10.001

Tian, X. (2017, November 9). Pharmaceutical use of GMOs. University of Connecticut. https://gmo.uconn.edu/topics/pharmaceutical-use-of-gmos

U.S. FDA. (2022, July). GMOs and your health. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/media/135280/download

U.S. FDA. (2024, May 3). Science and history of GMOs and other food modification processes. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/food/agricultural-biotechnology/science-and-history-gmos-and-other-food-modification-processes

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