GMA launches website advocating for genetically modified food

Grocery Manufacturers Association has launched www.FactsAboutGMOs.org, a new website about genetically modified food ingredients designed to put consumers’ concerns about their safety and environmental impact to rest.

“Genetically modified food ingredients are not only safe for people and our planet, but they also have a number of important benefits,” said president and CEO Pamela G. Bailey. “This technology has been used safely in the food supply in the United States for 20 years, and 70 to 80% of the food we eat in the United States, at home and away from home, contains ingredients that have been genetically modified. We know that some consumers have questions about genetically modified food ingredients. We built this website to help answer their questions about the safety, prevalence and benefits of this important and effective technology.”

Bailey adds that modern agricultural biotechnology helps keep American food affordable and in a way that protects and preserves natural resources by using less land, fewer pesticides and less water.

“GM technology has fueled an agricultural revolution in the United States that has helped us feed a growing American and world population,” she added. “By 2050, we will need to expand food production by 70% just to keep pace with a global population that is expected to grow to 9 billion.”

The website allows consumers to research and verify the safety, prevalence and benefits of genetically modified food ingredients by visiting online information posted by what GMA describes as “credible and independent sources, including governmental food safety agencies, medical and health organizations, news organizations, food safety experts and non-governmental organizations.”

According to GMA, many of the most influential regulatory agencies and organizations that study the safety of the food supply, including the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, the American Medical Association, the World Health Organization, Health Canada, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Academy of Sciences, have found genetically modified food ingredients are safe and there are no negative health effects associated with their use.

“GMA and its member companies will continue to advocate for the continued safe and effective use of agricultural biotechnology to increase the food supply while lowering cost. And we will continue to engage in an informative dialogue with our consumers so that they understand the safety, prevalence and benefits of GM technology and so that they can make informed choices for themselves and their families,” concluded Bailey.

Based in Washington, D.C., the Grocery Manufacturers Association represents more than 300 leading food, beverage and consumer product companies.