GMOS and 

Your Health

feed your mind

What is a GMO? 

A GMO (genetically modified organism) 

is a plant, animal, or microorganism 

that has had its genetic material 

(DNA) changed using technology that 

generally involves the specific 

modification of DNA, including the 

transfer of specific DNA from one 

organism to another. Scientists often 

refer to this process as genetic 

engineering.

1

Are GMO foods 

on the market safe 

to eat? 

Yes. GMO foods are carefully studied 

before they are sold to the public to 

ensure they are as safe as2 the foods 

we currently eat. These studies1

show that GMOs do not affect you 

differently than non-GMO foods. 

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Do GMOs affect 

your health?

GMO foods are as healthful and safe to eat as 

their non-GMO counterparts. Some GMO plants 

have actually been modified to improve their 

nutritional value. An example is GMO soybeans 

with healthier oils that can be used to replace oils 

that contain trans fats. Since GMO foods were 

introduced in the 1990s, research3

 has shown 

that they are just as safe as non-GMO foods. 

Additionally, research3 shows that GMO plants 

fed to farm animals are as safe as non-GMO 

animal food.

Did you know?

GMO crops are not changed in ways that would increase the risk of cancer 

for the humans or animals that eat them. An analysis of data3 by the 

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine found that 

patterns of change in cancer rates in the United States are similar to Europe 

and the United Kingdom, where people eat less GMO foods. Cancer rates 

are not connected with eating GMOs.

Do GMOs cause allergies 

or allergic reactions?

No. Most food allergies are caused by allergens 

found in just nine foods: peanuts, tree nuts, milk, 

eggs, wheat, soy, shellfish, sesame, and fish. For 

example, soy is an allergenic food available in a 

GMO version. If you are allergic to foods made 

with traditional (non-GMO) soy, you will be 

allergic to foods made with GMO soy. If you’re 

not allergic to foods made with traditional soy, 

you won’t be allergic to foods made with GMO 

soy. Scientists developing GMOs run tests to 

make sure allergens aren’t transferred from one 

food to another. Research shows that GMO foods 

are no more likely to cause allergies than 

non-GMOs. 

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Did you know?

The way GMOs are created allows scientists to know precisely which 

new proteins are produced in a plant. Scientists perform tests to make 

sure these proteins are not allergens. This type of testing, called 

allergenicity testing, is always part of the process for developing GMOs. 

Also, FDA regulations ensure that foods derived from GMOs must be 

as safe as1 the non-GMOs you eat.

Some people wonder if the cases of celiac disease are rising because of 

GMOs. Celiac disease4is a serious condition that affects the digestive 

system. It is caused by an abnormal immune response to gluten, a 

protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. There is no GMO wheat, rye, or 

barley available for sale to consumers in the United States today.

Is there a connection 

between GMO foods and 

antibiotics or steroids?

No. GMO foods do not contain more antibiotic 

or steroid residues than the non-GMO versions 

of those foods. There is no connection 

between whether a food is a GMO or 

non-GMO and whether or not it has any 

antibiotic or steroid residues.

What’s on the horizon 

for food production?

Scientists are continuing to look for new ways 

to develop foods with increased nutritional 

value or other useful traits. Scientists are also 

exploring a new technology called genome 

editing3 that could have uses for food 

modification, such as CRISPR. 

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Get more information about GMOs at 

www.fda.gov/feedyourmind. 
Sources:

1

https://www.fda.gov/food/food-new-plant-varieties/understanding-new-plant-varieties

2

https://www.medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002432.htm

3

https://www.nas-sites.org/ge-crops/2016/05/17/report/

4

https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/celiac-disease

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