That is a myth, along with other scary fabrications such as fish genes in tomatoes. The precise control GM allows over how genes are combined, plus the knowledge about any toxic effects from those genes that are manipulated, makes accidental harmful combinations highly unlikely. As evidence of GM products long-term health safety, people have been eating them since 1985 without adverse effects. Organic food was identified as the culprit in one third of those cases, despite the fact that organic produce constitutes only 1 percent of the food consumed in the United States. McHughen introduces the comparison with organic, not to discourage people from eating fruits and vegetables from whatever source, but only to place the scare tactics from organic proponents in prospective.
None comes close.
The greatest real damage is chronic anxiety over diet. Garth Buchanan holds a doctorate in applied science and has 35 years experience in operations research. Contents copyright 2001, the Durango Herald. All rights reserved.