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Please note!
This fact brief was originally published as an experiment to test the concepts behind fact briefs.
Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of useful information in fact briefs like this one, not all of them reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.

Is there any evidence of linkages between genetically modified foods and diseases?

Friday, November 13, 2020
By Jacob Alabab-Moser
NO

According to a 2016 U.S. National Academy of Sciences literature review, no significant correlation has been observed between the growing prevalence of genetically modified foods and any increase in disease or chronic conditions.

GM foods are are made from plants and animals with lab-altered DNA. They're produced to improve crop yields, lower prices and increase nutrition.

Safety assessments of GM foods focus on toxicity, allergies, nutrition and genetic stability. Though certain conditions have become more common in recent years—including kidney disease, celiac disease and some cancers—these trends were not found to be attributable to GM foods.

Approved GM foods "are not likely to present risks for human health," the World Health Organization says. Their consumption has shown "no effects on human health" in countries where they've been approved.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
Between 2020 and 2022, under close editorial supervision, Gigafact contracted a group of freelance writers and editors to test the concepts for fact briefs and provide inputs to our software development process. We call this effort Gigafact Foundry. Over the course of these two years, Gigafact Foundry writers published over 1500 fact briefs in response to claims they found online. Their important work forms the basis of Gigafact formats and editorial guidelines, and is available to the public on Gigafact.org. Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of relevant information to be found, not all fact briefs produced by Gigafact Foundry reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date and need to be looked at with fresh eyes, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.
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