Can’t Genetic Modification introduce toxins or allergens in to the food supply?
Genes provide the cellular blueprint for producing proteins, and certain proteins can be toxic or allergenic. But this is the case whether a new food was produced with GM or conventional techniques. Food-grade tomatoes and potatoes are routinely bred with wild varieties that are toxic to human beings, for example. But plant breeders, biologists, and farmers have identified methods to eliminate potentially dangerous plants before they ever make it to market. In fact, because GM techniques allow breeders to test the genes and proteins before they are transferred, ensuring the safety of GM plants is actually easier. Won’t GM crops create uncontrollable “super-weeds”? Some crop plants have been modified with GM techniques to be resistant to specific herbicides or to resist certain insect pests. But again, the only thing new here is the technology used to develop the new varieties. Several rapeseed/canola, wheat, and soybean varieties have been modified with conventional breeding techniques
Related Questions
- How do we handle sourcing and supply / distribution of approved proprietary food, paper, and supplies for our restaurants opening in new DMAs?
- Does LUNA Protein contain any common food allergens such as dairy, nuts, wheat, etc?
- Can’t Genetic Modification introduce toxins or allergens in to the food supply?
