Cons of GM Foods Critics acknowledge some benefits of genetically modified foods, but they also point out that no long-term studies have been made of the hazards these foods might present. Even if GM food itself presents no hazards, there are many serious concerns about the unintended consequences that a shift to GM farming and ranching may have on agriculture. Some worry that the insect resistance engineered into GM plants may threaten beneficial insects, killing them as well as crop pests. Others express concerns that use of plants resistant to chemical herbicides may lead to overuse of these weed-killing compounds.

Another concern is that the patents held on GM seeds by the companies that produce them may prove costly enough to force small farmers out of business, especially in the developing world. It is not clear whether any of these concerns should block the wider use of these new biotechnologies, but it is certain that they will continue to prove controversial in the years ahead.

In the United States, current federal regulations treat GM foods and non-GM foods equally. As a result, GM foods are not required to undergo special safety testing before entering the market. No additional labeling is required to identify a product as genetically modified unless its ingredients are significantly different from its conventional counterpart. The possibility that meat from GM animals may soon enter the food supply has heightened concerns about labeling. As a result, some states have begun to consider legislation to require the labeling of GM foods, thereby providing consumers with an informed choice.

In Your Notebook List the pros and cons of GM foods.

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