Understanding the Science of Genetically Modified Foods (GMOs)

[wisechoice]

43. It is not that easy

There are too many variables to establish the relationship. You need 2 groups, one eating GMOs and one not eating GMOs. You cannot monitor a person from not eating GMO food because there are too many unlabeled food that contain GMOs. Then there are other things that introduce health issues, such as environment, water etc. That is the reason we need large sample and longer period to study. There are bottlenecks introduced to this kind of study by pro GMO groups. One is the labeling of GMO foods. Other bottleneck is that the independent research bodies has limited access to these GMO seeds.
" Scientific American noted that several studies that were initially approved by seed companies were later blocked from publication when they returned "unflattering" results. While arguing that seed companies' intellectual property rights ought to be protected, Scientific American calls the practice dangerous and has called for the restrictions on research in the end-user agreements to be lifted immediately and for the Environmental Protection Agency to require, as a condition of approval, that independent researchers have unfettered access to genetically modified products for testing.[69] In February 2009, the American Seed Trade Association agreed that they "would allow researchers greater freedom to study the effects of GM food crops." This agreement left many scientists optimistic about the future, but there is little optimism as to whether this agreement has the ability to "alter what has been a research environment rife with obstruction and suspicion."[68][70]"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetically_modified_food_controversies