Proponents of GM technology claim that GM foods are no different to conventional foods and are therefore no more of a risk to health than conventional foods. Can this premise be substantiated?
GM foods are a product of GM technology, which modifies food plants by inserting genes from foreign species (bacteria, virus, unrelated food and non-food plants, insects, animal, fish, even human) into them to ‘modify’ their characteristics. Conventional food crops are the product of selective natural breeding – and natural breeding techniques never cross species.
Because GM food contains genes that would never be present in conventional food, it cannot be claimed they are similar to conventional foods nor can it be assumed that their effects on human health will be comparable. (See, Is GM Food Tested?)
