A strong majority, 89 percent, of scientists believe genetically modified (GM) foods are safe, according to a Pew Research Center study on science literacy, undertaken in cooperation with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and released on Jan. 29.
The study examined the views of scientists compared to the general public on technical topics like GM foods and found sharp differences in opinion on many measures.
According to the study, there was a 51 percentage point gap between scientists who think eating GM foods is safe and members of the general public who share the same opinion.
“The United States is the world’s leader in developing and adopting GM crops,” said USGC Manager of Biotechnology Andrew Conner. “The rapid advancement of this technology in U.S. corn production has raised questions about how to regulate it. This study confirms what we in the industry have long understood – that scientists and users of GM crops must do a better job communicating the safety and benefits of these technologies to the population as a whole.”
In a previous seperate statement released by the AAAS concerning the safety of GM foods and why a consensus of its members oppose mandatory labeling, the organization stated: “There are several current efforts to require labeling of foods containing products derived from genetically modified crop plants, commonly known as GM crops or GMOs. These efforts are not driven by evidence that GM foods are actually dangerous. Indeed, the science is quite clear: crop improvement by the modern molecular techniques of biotechnology is safe.”
In the same statement, the AAAS addressed claims by anti-GMO advocacy groups that GM foods are less tested and nutritionally deficient when compared to organic or other conventional foods. The organization said:
“.. contrary to popular misconceptions, GM crops are the most extensively tested crops ever added to our food supply. There are occasional claims that feeding GM foods to animals causes aberrations ranging from digestive disorders, to sterility, tumors and premature death. Although such claims are often sensationalized and receive a great deal of media attention, none have stood up to rigorous scientific scrutiny.
“Indeed, a recent review of a dozen well-designed long-term animal feeding studies comparing GM and non-GM potatoes, soy, rice, corn and triticale found that the GM and their non-GM counterparts are nutritionally equivalent.”
This is the first of several Pew reports exploring scientific literacy, with the next report scheduled to be released mid-February.
Click here to view the full study. Click here to learn more about GM foods from GMOAnswers.com, a website dedicated to creating an open dialogue about GM and agriculture.