# Myths and Realities about Genetically Modified Food: A Risk-Benefit Analysis
## 2 Legislative Framework of Genetically Modified (GM) Crops  
Both GM crops and their products must be rigorously evaluated before being commercially released. The legal framework that regulates GM food and feed attempts to ensure high protection levels for human and animal health and also for the environment [8]. Worldwide, the authorities responsible for evaluating GM products have adopted specific strategies based on the amount of experience and scientific knowledge acquired in the past few decades to assess their safety [18]. These principles were first submitted in 1993 by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and were further detailed by an international body jointly established by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) of the United Nations [19; 20]. In 1963, the FAO and the WHO created the Codex Alimentarius Commission. The Codex develops international food standards, guidelines, and codes of practice to protect the health of consumers and to ensure fair practices in food trade. Moreover, it promotes the coordination of all food standards work undertaken by international organizations [21]. In 1999, the Codex established the Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Foods Derived from Biotechnology (Figure 2). This group is responsible for developing and setting up guidelines, standards, or recommendations for foods that derive from applying modern biotechnology. The Task Force published three documents in 2003 that were adopted by Codex: Principles for the Risk Analysis of Foods Derived from Modern Biotechnology; Guideline for Safety Assessment of Foods Derived from Recombinant-DNA Plants; Guideline for Safety Assessment of Foods Derived from Recombinant-DNA Microbes [19]. The first document is a framework for performing risk analyses on either whole food derived from using biotechnology or the components of those foods. It discusses risk assessment, risk management, and risk communication. The Plant Guideline contains further details about the principles for risk analyses of foods derived from modern biotechnology. Specifically, paragraph 18 describes the framework for making such a safety assessment of food derived from a recombinant-DNA plant. This safety assessment framework follows a stepwise process to address relevant factors [18; 19] (Figure 2). Labeling GMOs is also essential for helping consumers to make informed decisions. Consumers care about certain details, such as source, if food is processed, and if it contains additives [22]. GMOs are surrounded by plenty of controversies. Since the first GM products were commercially released, the debate about the real perceived risks of using GMOs has been underway. While dispute rages on, the public's GM crop concerns have prompted governments to step in and adopt legislation that insists on GM products being labeled [17]. Notwithstanding, no agreement has been reached by government agencies about manda  
Figure 2: Development of standards and recommendations for products resulting from biotechnology. tory labeling, which renders the strategy ineffective and also makes transportation and trade extremely difficult [17; 23]. The dispute over GMO labeling is structured on how much information consumers should receive and if this information provides enough knowledge about the contents to help consumers make better decisions. A difference exists between voluntary and mandatory GMO labeling. Voluntary labeling informs consumers that products do not contain bioengineered substances. Mandatory labeling goes much further because it expects all food products that contain GMOs to include warning labels [17]. Both these labeling schemes have their pros and cons. Consumers have the right to know what their food contains, and labeling must help them make purchasing decisions. However, as consumer knowledge about new technology such as GE is limited, they cannot often establish whether GM products spell danger or how to measure any given risk against potential benefits.