Earlier this week, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Committee on Genetically Engineered (GE) Crops published a report affirming that Genetically Engineered foods are safe. The NAS said that there is "no sustained evidence that foods from GE crops were less safe than foods from non-GE crops".
This report has come to prove wrong many of the "negative effects" usually tied to GE foods. The 388 page report explains that GE crops are not the source for cancer, obesity, gastrointestinal illnesses, autism, or allergies; to name a few. The report claims that overall, GE foods have not increased crop yield, have helped lower the cost of crops, and lowered pest populations in some areas.
With only two months before the first mandatory GE- food labeling law takes effect, this report has been met with mixed reviews. On one side, you have people like Gregory Jaffe, Biotechnology Director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, who says that the findings "should give consumers confidence" about consuming such foods and thus the labeling of GE food is not necessary and could even have negative effects on our food supply. On the other side, there are people like Gary Hirshberg, Chairman of both Just label It [a campaign in favor of GE labeling] and Stonyfield Farm, who said that this report "confirms the importance and the need for mandatory GMO labeling on the package" supported by Food & Water Watch, one of the organizations that petitioned for the labeling of GE foods. They claim that there is no real consensus when it comes to the safety of GE and non-GE food, thus the labeling should still take effect.
It is yet to be seen what effects this report will have on the non-GMO food trend. Phil Lempert, a food industry analyst, said that this report will most likely not sway those consumers who religiously push for the consumption of non-GE products. It could, however, help those who cannot afford to pay insane ammounts of money for food merely because it is labeled non-GE to rest assured in buying food that is more affordable but has been modified.
