Forbes blog supports safety of GMOs

In a Forbes Science Business blog, Steven Salzberg debunks misconceptions about the safety of GMO foods. He points out that those who are “terrified” of GMO foods “don’t seem to realize that we’ve been modifying the genes in our foods for centuries, and it’s generally been a good thing.” Mr. Salzberg makes a comparison between the earliest corn cobs discovered by archaeologists and modern corn (pictured here) to demonstrate that GMO crops have been around for a long time, even though farmers were likely unaware of it. He concludes with the reassurance that, “you’re far more likely to be harmed by being hit on the head by a corn cob than by some kind of deviant GMO corn gene.” Read More. 

No health problems reported for GMO Foods

In a Huffington Post article analyzing the safety of GMOs, freelance science and policy writer Paul Tullis illustrates the widespread growth of the crops in the US: “Eighty percent of the 86 million acres of corn planted in the United States today-as well as 92 percent of the soy, and a good deal of the squash tomatoes, potatoes, canola and a host of other crops-comes from genetically engineered, or ‘GE,’ seed.” Executive Vice President for Food and Agriculture of BIO Sharon Bomer Lauritsen says, “Foods derived from biotechnology have been eaten by billions of people without a single documented health problem.” Read More.

Steven Salzberg: salzberg@umiacs.umd.edu