Genetically Modified Foods and Cancer: What's the Real Story

What are GM foods, and why do we have them?

This is relatively simple to understand! Genetically Modified foods, or more popularly known as GM foods, are food products that are not of natural occurrence but rather are the products of modern bioengineering above the genetic level of plants or animals.

Then, let us compare DNA to an instruction manual—for life. Indeed, genetic modification means redesigning that recipe book and changing some recipes or introducing new ones with specific characteristics.

Why do this?

Despite this, farmers and scientists have a few rather good reasons why this is not feasible. They may need crops that can withstand harsh climate conditions, one that can fight pests without more chemicals, more extensive and tastier produce that spoils less when in storage, or even healthier ones. For instance, some GM crops can grow with minimal water, and people with water problems will note the difference.

How often do we consume regular familiar GM foods?

You may need to be shocked to learn how many things on your dining table have been produced from GM crops. Here are a few of the most common ones in many places:

Corn (used in many processed foods)
Soybeans (including soy sauce and tofu)
Canola (used for cooking oil)
Cotton (for cottonseed oil)
Papaya (especially from Hawaii)
Sugar beets (for sugar production)
Some varieties of squash
Some varieties of potatoes

Why are some people concerned about GM foods and cancer?

Concern about GM foods and cancer comes from several sources. Changing DNA might introduce unintentional carcinogenic substances. In contrast, others voice concerns about some pesticides applied during the production process of certain GM plants or a fear that altered genetic structures can make foods more unhealthy or less safe to eat.

These are understandable concerns, considering that cancer is scary, and there is reason to be a bit worried about new technologies applied to our food. But to better grasp whether such worries are well founded, let’s look at what scientific research says about the matter.

What does scientific research say about GM foods and cancer?

Here’s what scientists look for when studying food safety:

Whether the food causes any toxic effects
If it causes allergic reactions
Whether it affects the nutritional content of food
If it results in long-term health effects
Whether it has any impact on beneficial insects or the environment
Whether it causes the development of antibiotic resistance

More than twenty years and thousands of studies later, scientists have been unable to prove that GM foods cause harm, including cancer. However, significant associations of scientists worldwide, such as the World Health Organization, the American Medical Association, the European Food Safety Authority, and many others, have opined that GM foods that have been approved are safer, if not safer, than their non-genetically modified counterparts.

How are GM foods tested for safety?

Any GM food is tested to the extreme for safety before it is sold. The testing is more strict than for a new traditional food variety. Think of having the most demanding building inspector look at every brick of a house instead of checking just the finished building.

Scientists test GM foods in various ways. They examine the new genes and proteins to ensure they don’t pose a danger, analyze the nutritional content to determine any changes and look for allergic reactions. These foods are even fed to animals for long periods to check for adverse health effects.

Why do we hear mixed messages about GM food safety?

Sometimes, we hear different claims about GM food safety on TV or through various social media groups. It gets confusing sometimes. Here’s why it got confusing in several ways:

The first few studies that hinted at a problem with GM foods involved serious flaws. Predicting tomorrow’s weather from yesterday’s newspaper was like using the wrong methods.

Sometimes, concerns about one specific GM crop or technique are stretched to apply to all GM foods. This would be like saying that all cars were unsafe because a particular model did not work correctly.

There’s also much misinformation about what genetic modification does. Many fail to realize that humans have been changing the DNA of plants for thousands of years through selective breeding; genetic modification is more precise.

Are there actual dangers with GM foods?

While GM foods have not been proven to cause cancer, there are some legitimate concerns that scientists keep an eye on:

Environmental impacts: There are fears that GM crops will harm other crops or any other pest on the face of the earth.

Herbicide use: Some GM crops are developed to be resistant to specific Herbicides, which may increase their use.

Corporate control: The world seeds market is dominated by several large corporations.

These are valid concerns, but they are a different question from whether GM foods cause cancer.

How do I make an informed decision about GM foods?

If you care about GM foods, here’s what you can do in the short term:

Search for labels: Most countries require labeling GMO foods so you can decide whether to buy them.

Buy organic: Organic foods can’t be engineered, so if you can afford it, buying organic is one surefire way to avoid getting GMed.

Study credible sources: Get information from scientific and health organizations, not Twitter, Facebook messages, or advocacy websites.

Ask Experts: Don’t be intimidated to ask those questions at farmers’ markets, food coops, or doctors’ offices.

What’s the bottom line regarding GM foods and cancer?

No scientific evidence indicates that GM foods cause cancer or other health issues. Scientific consensus is that the approved GM foods are safe, just like their conventional counterparts.

This doesn’t mean that we should stop studying them, however. Scientists continuously study GM foods to ensure their safety and improve their testing methods. Such studies help ensure that new GM foods entering our plates are safe.

What does the future hold for GM foods?

The future of GM foods is bright, with potential key benefits. Crops are now being designed that can, in the not-too-distant future, have the ability to:

Help prevent malnutrition within developing economies
Require less water and fewer fertilizers
Resist climate change
Stay fresher for more extended periods to reduce waste
Taste better while providing more significant health benefits

Conclusion:

With further research, we can expect further advances in GM technology. The lesson is to continue studying these novel developments with a caring eye and ensure the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

Remember, prudently avoiding toxins is good sense, but a decision cannot be made without facts, so science should dictate this decision rather than fear or lack of understanding. The real story of GM foods and cancer is that after all these studies, scientists have yet to find that such foods do cause cancer. While there is much discussion on other pertinent aspects of GM foods, the risk of causing cancer is not among them.