An Illusory Consensus behind GMO Health Assessment

2015/08/07 by Sheldon Krimsky · 5 citations
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Medicine · #Genetically Modified Organisms Research #CRISPR and Genetic Engineering #Biotechnology and Related Fields

paper · doi:10.1177/0162243915598381

openalex publication_date 2015/08/07 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/05/21

Abstract

Prominent scientists and policymakers assert with confidence that there is no scientific controversy over the health effects of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)—that genetically modified crops currently in commercial use and those yet to be commercialized are inherently safe for human consumption and do not have to be tested. Those who disagree are cast as “GMO deniers.” This article examines scientific reviews and papers on GMOs, compares the findings of professional societies, and discusses the treatment of scientists who have reported adverse effects in animal feeding experiments. This article concludes by exploring the role that politics and corporate interests have had in distorting an honest inquiry into the health effects of GMO crops.

Citations

• An overview of the last 10 years of genetically engineered crop safety research
• Scope and Impact of Financial Conflicts of Interest in Biomedical Research
• A literature review on the safety assessment of genetically modified plants
• Science on Stage

Cited by

• Biotechnology [wikipedia]
• Denialism [wikipedia]
• Genetic engineering [wikipedia]
• Genetically modified maize [wikipedia]
• Genetically modified organism [wikipedia]

Related

• Published GMO studies find no evidence of harm when corrected for multiple comparisons
• Governing GMOs in the USA: science, law and public health
• Evidence for Absolute Moral Opposition to Genetically Modified Food in the United States
• Genetically modified plants and human health
• Twenty-eight years of GM Food and feed without harm: why not accept them?