GMO Answers, an initiative committed to creating conversations about GMOs and answering consumer questions, conducted a national survey this year identifying top questions about GMOs. Over the past couple of months, GMO Answers has been providing an answer each week to one of the top 10 questions discovered through the survey.
So far, seven of the top 10 questions have been answered on GMOAnswers.com, and spokesperson Cathleen Enright says, “We found that the Number One top question concerned long-term health. Eight out of 10 folks surveyed wanted to know if GMOs were linked to cancer. We had one of our independent experts, Dr. Kevin Folta from the University of Florida, provide that answer.”
The correct answer: GMOs are not linked to cancer. Enright says other top questions range from health and safety to corporate culture, common on-farm practices and agriculture in general. She says there have been a number of questions on how GMOs affect health, and experts have answered those questions based on scientific fact.
“There has been no credible evidence to suggest there is a health or safety issue associated with GMOs. What we have seen through almost 20 years of consumption is that millions of meals have been consumed by humans that included GMO ingredients, and there has not once been a safety assertion made.”
Enright invites everyone to become part of the conversation on GMOanswers.com because many people are basing their opinions about GMOs on inaccurate information posted online and through social media.
“GMO Answers is now in that space, and it’s important for us to provide a voice. If the loudest voices heard are providing misinformation, the success stories about our businesses and our livelihoods and our commitment to the provision of safe food will never be heard.”
GMO Answers is funded by the members of The Council for Biotechnology Information, which includes BASF, Bayer CropScience, Dow AgroSciences, DuPont, Monsanto Company and Syngenta. Members are dedicated to the responsible development and application of plant biotechnology.
Supporting partners are organizations, companies and others who are committed to the five core principles of GMO Answers and have added their support to this initiative. To date those partners include The American Farm Bureau Federation, American Seed Trade Association, American Soybean Association, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Corn Growers Association, National Cotton Council, and the South Dakota Agri-Business Association.
Source: NAFB News Service