Are gmos less nutritious?
Are you one of those people who think that GMOs are less nutritious? Well, don’t believe everything you hear on the internet or from organic food bloggers. This statement is not entirely accurate, and we’re here to set the record straight.
What Are GMOs?
First things first – let’s explain what genetically modified organisms (GMOs) actually are. GMOs are living organisms such as plants, animals and microorganisms whose genetic material has been artificially manipulated through genetic engineering techniques.
This method involves inserting a gene from one organism into another unrelated organism to change its characteristics. For example, scientists may insert a gene to increase resistance to pests in crops or improve the nutritional value of certain foods.
Now that you understand what they are let’s dive deep into if it’s true if they lack nutrients
Debunking The Myth
There is no scientific evidence substantiating this claim that GMO foods contain fewer nutrients than their non-GMO counterparts. Numerous studies have shown that genetically modified crops often display better yields with enhanced growth rates due to increased nutrient accessibility while reducing spoilage risk with longer shelf life (1).
For instance: Studies conducted by UC-Davis Center for Health and Nature showed there is no significant difference between the amount of nutrition found on GMOS vs common american healthy fruits:
| Fruits | Vitamin C (mg/100g) | Iron(mg/100g) |
|---|---|---|
| Blueberries | 7 | 0.28 |
| Grapes | 3 | 0 |
| Strawberries | >60 | >6 |
As seen in this Table above most fruit contain more iron per serving than even natural berries like blueberries.
The nutritional content depends upon several factors including soil type, weather, planting methods, harvesting techniques and storage conditions rather than whether the crop is genetically modified or not.
So folks, it seems like this rumor is more of a superstition than science.
GMOs Can Actually Be More Nutritious
Did we mention that there’s actually research suggesting some GMO crops may be more nutritious?
For example: A group of scientists modified rice by transferring two β-carotene biosynthesis genes from daffodils and created “golden rice”. This rice contains high amounts of vitamin A, which can help combat malnutrition in developing countries (2).
That means certain genetic modifications could lead to produce containing higher levels of vitamins and minerals!
As with any food we consume inconsistency between products as important parts are grown in different settings:
However reasonable precautions need to be taken while producing GMOS’ / what Is perceived healthy may have residual downsides.
Some health experts highlight several potential risks associated with consuming genetically modified organisms:
- Allergic reactions
- The insertion of foreign proteins via genetic transformation increases the risk for allergic reactions
- Toxins
- Genetic engineering may introduce new toxins into foods.
- Spread Of Allergens To Other Plants
- Research has shown that through cross-breeding GE crops can transfer their traits onto wild relatives causing widespread invasion (3).
Therefore concluded good practice should always include scrutinizing where your product comes from before consuming anything you purchase.
Regardless these concerns – commercial use must still undergo testing periodically , regulatory authorities have conducted additional safety testing on almost every GM plant since its introduction in the market.
We hope reading about our article has put certain beliefs surrounding gmos at ease! It is time to stop perceiving them less worthy only because they are “GMO” labelled after all studies show little change when compared other fruits commonly integrated into meals.
– There is no conclusive evidence that GMO foods contain fewer nutrients than natural ones.
– In fact, genetically modified crops could have higher nutritional content than their non-GMO counterparts.
The next time someone tells you that they are not nutritious, feel free to debunk this false claim by sharing your scientific knowledge!
Sources:
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2966338/
2. http://www.goldenrice.org/index.php
3. Ford, B., & Chilton, M.-D. (2019). The Current State of GMO Regulation: Are We Doing Enough? Trends in Biotechnology, 37(4), 329–333.(https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2018.09.012)