There is a small chance that the genes in food can transfer to cells the body or bacteria in the gut. Some GMO plants contain genes that make them resistant to certain antibiotics. This resistance could pass on to humans. There is growing concern globally that people are becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics.

Types of Genetic Modification Methods for Crops

• Traditional Crop Modification. Traditional methods of modifying plants, like selective breeding and crossbreeding, have been around for nearly 10,000 years.
• Genetic Engineering.
• Genome Editing.

The pros of GMO crops are that they may contain more nutrients, are grown with fewer pesticides, and are usually cheaper than their non-GMO counterparts. The cons of GMO foods are that they may cause allergic reactions because of their altered DNA and they may increase antibiotic resistance.

Issues of concern include: the capability of the GMO to escape and potentially introduce the engineered genes into wild populations; the persistence of the gene after the GMO has been harvested; the susceptibility of non-target organisms (e.g. insects which are not pests) to the gene product; the stability of the gene; …

Cons of GMO Crop Farming. The intensive cultivation of GM crops has raised a wide range of concerns with respect to food safety, environmental effects, and socioeconomic issues. The major cons are explored for cross-pollination, pest resistance, human health, the environment, the economy, and productivity.

Do GMOs affect your health? GMO foods are as healthful and safe to eat as their non-GMO counterparts. Some GMO plants have actually been modified to improve their nutritional value. An example is GMO soybeans with healthier oils that can be used to replace oils that contain trans fats.

Five sets of ethical concerns have been raised about GM crops: potential harm to human health; potential damage to the environment; negative impact on traditional farming practice; excessive corporate dominance; and the ‘unnaturalness’ of the technology.

Interaction with wild and native populations: GMOs could compete or breed with wild species. Farmed fish, in particular, may do this. GM crops could pose a threat to crop biodiversity, especially if grown in areas that are centres of origin of that crop.

Eating genetically engineered (GE) corn has been strongly linked to serious health effects—including mammary tumors, kidney and liver damage.

Genetically modified crops could also affect food safety and food quality. This technology can increase the breed of crops to produce more food with and an increase of nutritional value. This has been introduced in Golden Rice with its increase in vitamin A, according to a study conducted by NCBI.

Help us grow the food movement and reclaim our food. Currently, up to 92% of U.S. corn is genetically engineered (GE), as are 94% of soybeans and 94% of cotton [1] (cottonseed oil is often used in food products).

GE crops paired with their pesticide counterparts wreak havoc on the environment through: Increased herbicide use. Increase of herbicide-resistant weeds. The contamination of organic and conventional (non-GMO) crops.

Countries Where GMOs are Banned The Commission reports “several countries such as France, Germany, Austria, Greece, Hungary, the Netherlands, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Bulgaria, Poland, Denmark, Malta, Slovenia, Italy and Croatia have chosen a total ban.

France is the EU’s largest agricultural producer and bans cultivation of GMO crops.

Nineteen out of the 27 member state countries of the European Union have voted to either partially or fully ban Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).

The growth and sale of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are permitted in England and Wales, subject to an intensive authorization process that occurs primarily at the European Union (EU) level. Most legislation in England and Wales that applies to GMOs is implementing legislation for EU law.

Several countries such as France, Germany, Austria, Greece, Hungary, the Netherlands, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Bulgaria, Poland, Denmark, Malta, Slovenia, Italy and Croatia have chosen a total ban. Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium has opted out, as well as Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The court found that the French ban violated European Union law because the maize was authorised by the EU in 1998. Eight member states have banned the cultivation of MON810 – France, Germany, Poland, Italy, Luxemburg, Austria, Hungary and Greece. The ban has only been legally challenged in France.

Europe is not officially against the use of GM crops when it comes to laboratory research, and they are working to regulate the field.

(Dec. 26, 2016) On December 11, 2016, new legislation implementing European Union directives that ban the cultivation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) entered into effect in Italy.

Among the countries growing GM crops, the USA (70.9 Mha), Brazil (44.2 Mha), Argentina (24.5 Mha) India (11.6 Mha) and Canada (11 Mha) are the largest users.