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General Accounting Office (GAO) Report on Genetically Modified Foods
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Background:
The General Accounting Office (GAO) recently released a report entitled, "Genetically Modified Foods: Experts View Regimen of Safety Tests as Adequate, but FDA's Evaluation Process Could Be Enhanced." An amendment added to a fiscal year 2002 appropriations law by Reps. Tierney (D-MA) and Baldacci (D-ME) required GAO to conduct the study.
The report concluded, "GM foods pose the same types of inherent risks to human health as conventional foods: they can contain allergens, toxins, and compounds known as antinutrients, which inhibit the absorption of nutrients. Before marketing a GM food, company scientists evaluate these risks-even though they are not routinely evaluated in conventional foods-to determine if the foods pose any heightened risks. While some GM foods have contained allergens, toxins, and antinutrients, the levels have been comparable to those foods' conventional counterparts. In evaluating GM foods, scientists perform a regimen of tests. Biotechnology experts whom we contacted agree that this regimen of tests is adequate in assessing the safety of GM foods. While some consumer groups, as well as some scientists from the European Union, have questioned the ethical or cultural appropriateness of genetically modifying foods, experts whom we contacted from these organizations also believe the tests are adequate for assessing the safety of these foods."
GAO went on to state that the FDA evaluation process contains the necessary controls for ensuring it obtains the safety data needed to evaluate GM foods, but that the transparency of the process could be enhanced. Specifically, GAO recommended randomly verifying the test data that companies provide and communicating more clearly the scientific rationale for the agency's final decision on a GM food safety assessment.
Finally, GAO said that it is unnecessary to monitor the long-term health risks of GM foods because "there is no scientific evidence, or even a hypothesis, suggesting that long-term harm (such as increased cancer rates) results from these foods." The report also cited technical difficulties in tracking long-term health effects.
A complete copy of the report can be viewed at: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d02566.pdf.
For more information, contact Matthew Lyons at 202-962-9200.
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