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.
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.
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.
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