Fox News takes a look at the merits of genetically modified crops. They note that GMO crops fail to outperform their non-GMO counterparts, and that much is unknown about the health affects of consuming genetically modified foods.
From Fox News:
GMOs, a term that's thrown around all the time but rarely understood, have been taking a lot of flack lately. The latest confusion and controversy has prompted Whole Foods to pull Chobani yogurt from its shelves and General Mills to remove all GMOs from boxes of Cheerios. But how many people actually know what they are?
GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms) are plants and animals that have had been created through gene splicing - the merging of DNA from different species to make a new one. Many strains of alfalfa, canola, papaya, zucchini, soy, sugar beets (a main source of white sugar), and corn (which is pretty much in everything) are genetically modified, according to the Non-GMO Project. And while we're really just starting to talk about GMOs, we've actually been eating them for more than two decades.
When food scientists first developed GMOs, they believed the technology would boost crop yields and profits, said dietician Jaime Mass, RDN, LDN. "Most GMO crops were created to be pest-resistant, or to survive herbicide use. If crops aren't killed by pesticides or little critters then we will grow more of that crop, make a lot more money, and potentially feed more people."
However, recent findings published in the International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability show that conventional methods of breeding corn and soy actually increase yields more than genetic modification processes do. Still, the big question is: Are they safe to eat?
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