Research Proves GMO Foods Are Safe And Healthy
Thirty years of data on about 100 billion animals found that animals fed genetically modified crops were all healthy and performed as well as those…
Thirty years of data on about 100 billion animals found that animals fed genetically modified crops were all healthy and performed as well as those fed non-GMO crops. The study, done at the University of California Davis by two Extension researchers, looked at animal health before GMO feeds were fed and after they became commonly used. The study was reported in a recent issue of the Journal of Animal Science.
Researches also studied foods produced by these animals, including meat, milk and eggs, and found no difference in the digestibility, performance or healthfulness from animals fed GMO feeds compared to those fed non-GMO feeds.
The study went back to 1983 before livestock and poultry were fed GMO feeds. Then, they looked at studies of animal feeding from 1996, when genetically engineered feeds were first fed, through 2011. It gave a comparison of the health of the animals as well as the quality and healthfulness of food from them before and after the genetically modified feeds were fed.
Over 100 billion animals were included in the various studies reviewed by the California researches. The huge numbers provided an assurance that the information provided is reliable.
Looking at this enormous amount of animal research, the researchers found no evidence of declines in animal health or performance with the genetically modified feeds. Overall health of the animals was as good as or better with GMO feeds than before.
The studies also looked at the composition of products from animals fed diets from the genetically engineered feeds. This included meat, milk and eggs. They found that there was no difference in these foods when animals were fed the genetically modified feeds compared to non-genetically modified feeds.
It is interesting to note, according to the USDA, 90 percent of the corn and 93 percent of the soybeans planted in this county in 2013 were planted to the GMO or genetically engineered seeds. With the widespread use of these crops, it suggests that they have been fed in many countries in the world for over 15 years. Potential problems from their use would have been evident long before now.
Since this information reported in the Journal of Animal Science was “peer reviewed,” it is considered reliable and accurate. Peer reviewed means other researchers have looked at the data and vouch for its accuracy and reliability.
Will this huge amount of data put to rest the critics that oppose the genetically engineered feeds and foods from them? Any open-minded and fair discussion should include this information. It is freely available to the public in the recent issue of the Journal.
Emotions come into the picture when people are talking about the food they eat and the care given to livestock. And, various sources that do not use adequate research tend to report misleading information and twist the facts.
Most farmers in the local area are planting the GMO seeds. They do this because they can reduce the use of weed killers and pesticides. They also reduced the number of times they need to go over a field to plant a crop. And, increased yields from fewer resources also result.
Another benefit of GMOs is the abundant food supply provided for consumers. They help assure consumers of plenty of available healthy food on their dinner tables. They also help reduce hunger in the world.
So, let’s don’t worry about labeling food that contains GMO products. Most all of them do and they are as healthy as foods from non-GMOs – if one can find them.
Parker is retired from The Ohio State University and is an independent agricultural writer.
