GMO foods are plants or animals that have been genetically modified. GMO stands for genetically modified organism.

The problem with GMOs is that the hype is not often matched by the actual results.

Further, testing the safety of these organisms for the allergic is not being done. After all, the only difference between a food and an allergen is its DNA and the development of GMOs involves direct changes to the DNA of the plant or animal. The possibility that such GMOs could result in food allergies definitely exists.

For that matter, the only difference between a safe food and a poison is the same DNA.

Here are 10 reasons to avoid GMOs whenever possible:

1. GMOs won’t fix the planet’s food shortage
   In fact, the reason that our planet continues to have food shortages has more to do with things like using corn crops to make ethanol than lack of ability to produce food.
2. GMOs don’t mean more food per acre
   While the big promise has been more food per cultivated acre, that has not been seen in practice.
3. GMOs do not reduce pesticide use
   A large number of GMOs are actually designed to be resistant to pesticides, rather than be hardier plants. According to the US government, since the introduction of GMO plants, there has been an increase in pesticide use.
4. GMOs do not address the problems of the third world
   To really help global agriculture, GMOs would need to address poverty, hunger and climate change. This is not what GMO plants are targeted at.
5. There are better ways to farm
   Even organic methods of farming can do a better job of both handling pests and improving productivity.
6. Are GMOs safe?
   We don’t have long-term testing of GMO safety for humans. However, testing with animals show some significant concerns.
7. GMOs are being fed to cattle and other animals that will end up on your dinner table
   The problem with this is related to long term safety. If the animal’s health is affected – how will that animal’s flesh affect you?
9. Farmers lose with GMOs.
   The issue is that farmers can no longer use their traditional seed strategies, which includes keeping part of their crop for next year’s seed. Most seed from GMO crops are infertile. Farmers are forced to buy seed every year – with economic impacts.
10. GMO cross-pollination with “regular” crops means disaster for farmers
    When GMO pollen contaminates regular crops, resulting harvest is a GMO hybrid. In fact, the purity of organic crops are seriously threatened, as GMO pollens contaminate nearby fields.
11. Can you trust big GMO companies?
    The largest seed companies who are pushing GMO have a negative history in regards to both farmers (who have been sued and forced to turn over a crop that was contaminated by GMO pollen) and in regards to consumers and the lobby against labeling GMO ingredients. GMO ultimately means that a company holds a patent on the very existence of a plant or animal – the implications are very serious.

Source: GM Watch