Type of Publication: Report
Author(s): GMO Free Florida
URL: https://gmofreeflorida.org/consensus-on-gm-foods-2/
Abstract:
Background:
Genetically modified (GM) food safety is a controversial subject. Some claim that all GM foods currently on the market have been shown to be as safe as their conventional counterparts. Systematic reviews of the scientific evidence and opinions of health experts, however, overwhelmingly indicate GM foods currently on the market cannot presently be considered as safe as their conventional counterparts. This is either due to a lack of evidence of safety, or because of the weight of the scientific evidence from animal studies that indicates at least some GM foods currently on the market may be unsafe compared to their conventional counterparts.
Purpose:
To compare the consensus observed in our systematic reviews to the consensus on climate change. To discuss why the claim of a worldwide consensus in the medical and public health communities that GM foods currently on the market are as safe or healthy as their conventional counterparts should never have been made in the absence of systematic reviews on the subject. To present evidence that a precautionary approach should be taken with GM foods.
Results:
Health professionals generally agree with climatologists on climate change.
Farmers and agriculture experts in the United States appear far less likely to agree with climatologists on climate change when compared to health experts.
Environmental groups often agree with climatologists on climate change and health professionals on GM food safety.
Proponents of GM foods have largely engaged in various types of science denial. These include: reliance on fake experts, cherry-picked supportive facts, belief in conspiracy theories, impossible expectations of what research can deliver and attacks on science and scientists.
Large sums of money have been spent by GM food and seed companies to promote the inaccurate claim of a consensus that GM foods are as safe as their conventional counterparts. This appears to have perpetuated the idea of such a consensus despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
A precautionary approach should be taken with GM foods.
Conclusion:
Systematic reviews indicate an overwhelming consensus among health groups and individual health professionals on GM foods. The consensus among these health experts is that GM foods currently on the market cannot presently be considered as safe as their conventional counterparts. This is either due to lack of evidence of safety, or because of a consensus in the scientific literature that at least some GM foods currently on the market may be unsafe compared to their conventional counterparts. Despite the overwhelming consensus, various types of science denial have been used by agrochemical companies to deny this consensus. The evidence also indicates that those who deny the GM food consensus, such as agricultural experts and corn belt farmers who have largely adopted GM crops, are also likely to deny the consensus on climate change. In comparison, health professionals and environmental groups are more likely to accept the consensus on GM foods and climate change.
Therefore, we call upon the health community, who are the experts on health, to continue to inform the public of the potential harms from GM foods and to choose non-GMO and organic foods to avoid those potential harms. We urge the governments of the world to place a moratorium on all GM foods until each GM food has been demonstrated as safe in independent long-term and multigenerational chronic toxicity/carcinogenicity studies using both rodents and non-rodents comparable to humans. We also call upon all who have published papers claiming that there is a consensus that all GM foods on the market are safe to provide corrections, or formally retract their papers if necessary. Our systematic reviews indicate this claim is not supported by the consensus, nor does it appear this claim was ever supported by the consensus.
A precautionary approach should be taken especially since there is now a consensus among health groups and individual health professionals that GM foods currently on the market cannot be considered as safe as their conventional counterparts at this present time, and a consensus in the scientific literature that some GM foods currently on the market may be unsafe compared to their conventional counterparts.
