Skip to main content
Intended for healthcare professionals
Restricted access
Research article
First published online August 7, 2015

An Illusory Consensus behind GMO Health Assessment

Sheldon Krimsky [email protected]View all authors and affiliations
Volume 40, Issue 6
https://doi.org/10.1177/0162243915598381

Abstract

Prominent scientists and policymakers assert with confidence that there is no scientific controversy over the health effects of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)—that genetically modified crops currently in commercial use and those yet to be commercialized are inherently safe for human consumption and do not have to be tested. Those who disagree are cast as “GMO deniers.” This article examines scientific reviews and papers on GMOs, compares the findings of professional societies, and discusses the treatment of scientists who have reported adverse effects in animal feeding experiments. This article concludes by exploring the role that politics and corporate interests have had in distorting an honest inquiry into the health effects of GMO crops.

Get full access to this article

View all access and purchase options for this article.

Get Access

References

AAEM (American Academy of Environmental Medicine). 2009. “Position Statement on GMOs.” May 8. Accessed July 19, 2014. http://www.aaemonline.org/gmopost.html.
Google Scholar
Achenbach J. 2015. “Why Do Many Reasonable People Doubt Science?” National Geographic 14 (5). Accessed March 2, 2015. http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2015/03/science-doubters/achenbach-text.
Google Scholar
American Medical Association, Action of the House of Delegates. 2012. “Annual Meeting: Council on Science and Public Health Report 2.” CSAPH Report 2-A-12. Accessed July 21, 2015. http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/about-ama/our-people/ama-councils/council-science-public-health/reports/2012-reports.page. https://download.ama-assn.org/resources/doc/csaph/x-pub/a12-csaph2-bioengineeredfoods.pdf.
Google Scholar
Antoniou M., Robinson C., Fagan J. 2012. GMO Myths and Truths: An Evidence-based Examination of the Claims Made for the Safety and Efficacy of Genetically Modified Crops. London, UK: Earth Open Source. Accessed February 20, 2015. http://earthopensource.org/wordpress/downloads/GMO-Myths-and-Truths-edition2.pdf.
Google Scholar
Bawa A. S., Anilakumar K. R. 2013. “Genetically Modified Foods: Safety, Risks and Public Concerns—A Review.” Journal of Food Science & Technology 50 (6): 1035–46.
Crossref
PubMed
Google Scholar
Bekelman J. E., Li Y., Gross C. P. 2003. “Scope and Impact of Financial Conflicts of Interest in Biomedical Research: A Systematic Review.” Journal of the American Medical Association 289 (4): 454–65. (January 22-29, 2003).
Crossref
PubMed
ISI
Google Scholar
BMA (British Medical Association). 1999. “Press Releases Archive.” May 18, 1999. Accessed July 17, 2014. http://web2.bma.org.uk/pressrel.nsf/wall/1E731484333E2965802568F5005430C6?OpenDocument.
Google Scholar
BMA (British Medical Association). 2003. “Press Release Archive.” January 14, 2003. Accessed July 17, 2014. http://web2.bma.org.uk/pressrel.nsf/wall/F1DCEF13942969B980256CAE00599823?OpenDocument.
Google Scholar
BMA (British Medical Association, Board of Science and Education). 2004. Genetically Modified Foods and Health: A Second Interim Statement. London, UK: British Medical Association. Accessed July 5, 2015. http://www.argenbio.org/adc/uploads/pdf/bma.pdf.
Google Scholar
Borel B. 2014. “Core Truths: 10 Common GMO Claims Debunked.” Popular Science 285 (1): 57. Accessed July 15, 2014. http://www.popsci.com/article/science/core-truths-10-common-gmo-claims-debunked.
Google Scholar
Bourgeois F. 2010. “Drug Trials Funded by Industry Are More Likely to Publish Favorable Results.” Annals of Internal Medicine 153 (3): 158–66.
Crossref
PubMed
ISI
Google Scholar
Campbell P. M., Reiner D., Moore A. E., Lee R.-Y., Epstein M. M., Higgins T. J. V. 2011. “Comparison of the Alpha-amylase Inhibitor-1 from Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) Varieties and Transgenic Expression in Other Legumes-post-translational Modifications and Immunogenicity.” Journal of Agriculture Food Chemistry 59 (11): 6047–54.
Crossref
PubMed
ISI
Google Scholar
COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics). Accessed January 16, 2015. http://publicationethics.org/files/retraction%20guidelines.pdf.
Google Scholar
CRIIGEN (Committee of Research and Independent Information on Genetic Engineering). Legal status. Revised July 7, 2008. Accessed July 30, 2015. http://www.criigen.org/user/pdf/CRIIGEN_statuts.pdf.
Google Scholar
de Vendômois J. Spiroux, Cellier D., Vélot C., Clair Emilie, Mesnage Robin, Séralini Gilles-Eric. 2010. “Debate on GMOs Health Risks after Statistical Findings in Regulatory Tests.” International Journal of Biological Sciences 6 (6): 590–98.
Crossref
PubMed
ISI
Google Scholar
Diels J., Cunha M., Manaia C., Sabugosa-Madeira B., Silva M. 2011. “Association of Financial or Professional Conflict of Interest to Research Outcomes on Health Risks or Nutritional Assessment Studies of Genetically Modified Crops.” Food Policy 36 (2): 197–203.
Crossref
ISI
Google Scholar
Domingo J. L., Bordonaba J. G. 2011. “A Literature Review on the Safety Assessment of Genetically Modified Plants.” Environment International 37 (4): 734–42.
Crossref
PubMed
ISI
Google Scholar
Dona A., Arvanitouannis I. S. 2009. “Health Risks of Genetically Modified Foods.” Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition 49 (2): 164–75.
Crossref
PubMed
ISI
Google Scholar
Druker Steven. 2015. Altered Genes, Twisted Truth. Fairfield, IA: Clear River Press.
Google Scholar
EFSA (European Food and Safety Authority). 2012. “Final Review of the Séralini et al. (2012) Publication on a 2-year Rodent Feeding Study with Glyphosate Formulations and GM Maize NK603 First Published Online on September 19, 2012 in Food and Chemical Toxicology.” EFSA Journal 10 (11): 2986–96.
Crossref
Google Scholar
EFSA (European Food Safety Authority). 2014. “Scientific Opinion on Application (EFSA-GMO-UK-2009-76) for the Placing on the Market of Soybean MON 87769.” EFSA Journal 12 (5): 3644–85.
Google Scholar
Ewen S. W. B., Pusztai A. 1999a. “Effects of Diets Containing Genetically Modified Potatoes Expressing Galanthus nivalis Lectin on Rat Small Intestine.” The Lancet 354 (9187): 1353–54.
Crossref
PubMed
ISI
Google Scholar
Ewen S. W. B., Pusztai A. 1999b. “GM Food Debate: Reply.” The Lancet 354 (9191): 1726–27.
Crossref
PubMed
ISI
Google Scholar
FCT (Food & Chemical Toxicology, Editor-in-chief). 2014. “Retraction Notice to: Long Term Toxicity of a Roundup Herbicide and a Roundup-tolerant Genetically Modified Maize.” Food & Chemical Toxicology 63:244.
PubMed
ISI
Google Scholar
Flynn L., Gillard M. S. 1999. “Pro-GM Scientist ‘Threatened Editor.’” The Guardian, October 31. Accessed July 22, 2015. http://www.theguardian.com/science/1999/nov/01/gm.food.
Google Scholar
Hammond B., Dudek R., Lemen J., Nemeth M. 2004. “Results of a 13 Week Safety Assurance Study with Rats Fed Grain from Glyphosate Tolerant Corn.” Food & Chemical Toxicology 42 (6): 1003–14.
Crossref
PubMed
ISI
Google Scholar
Hilbeck A., Binmelis R., Defarge N., Steinbrecher Ricarda, Székács András, Wickson Fern, Antoniou Michael, Bereano Philip L., Clark Ethel Ann, Hansen Michael, Novotny Eva, Heinemann Jack, Meyer Hartmut, Shiva Vandana, Wynne Brian. 2015. “No Scientific Consensus on GMO Safety.” Environmental Sciences Europe 27 (4): 1–6.
Google Scholar
Hilgartner Stephen. 2000. Science on Stage: Expert Advice as Public Drama. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.
Crossref
Google Scholar
ICMJE (International Committee of Medical Journal Editors). 2013. Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals. 1-17, 7. Accessed January 17, 2015. http://www.icmje.org/recommendations/browse/publishing-and-editorial-issues/scientific-misconduct-expressions-of-concern-and-retraction.html.
Google Scholar
Krimsky S. 2005. “The Funding Effect in Science and Its Implications for the Judiciary.” Journal of Law & Public Policy 13 (3): 43–68.
Google Scholar
Lachman P. 1999. “Letter. Health Risks of Genetically Modified Foods.” The Lancet 354 (9172): 69.
Crossref
ISI
Google Scholar
Lee R., Reiner D., Dekan G., Moore A. E., Higgins T. J., Epstein M. M. 2013. “Genetically Modified α-amylase Inhibitor Peas Are Not Specifically Allergenic in Mice.” Plos One 8 (1): 1–9.
Crossref
ISI
Google Scholar
Magana-Gomez J. A., Calderon de la Barca A. M. 2008. “Risk Assessment of Genetically Modified Crops for Nutrition and Health.” Nutrition Reviews 67 (1): 1–16.
Crossref
ISI
Google Scholar
Maghari B. M., Ardekani A. M. 2011. “Genetically Modified Foods and Social Concerns.” Avicenna Journal of Medical Biotechnology 3 (3): 109–17.
PubMed
Google Scholar
National Academy of Sciences. 2004. The Safety of Genetically Engineered Foods: Approaches to Assessing Unintended Health Effects. Washington, DC: National Academies Press.
Google Scholar
Newman Stuart. 2009. “Genetically Modified Foods and the Attack on Nature.” Capitalism Nature Socialism 20 (2): 22–31.
Crossref
Google Scholar
Newman Stuart. 2013. “The State of the Science.” GeneWatch 26 (1): 24–25.
Google Scholar
Nicolia A., Manzo A., Veronesi F., Roselini D. 2014. “An Overview of the Last 10 Years of Genetically Engineered Crop Safety Research.” Critical Reviews in Biotechnology 34 (1): 77–88.
Crossref
PubMed
ISI
Google Scholar
Nordlee J. A., Taylor S. L., Townsend J. A., Thomas L. A., Bush R. K. 1996. “Identification of a Brazil-nut Allergen in Transgenic Soybeans.” The New England Journal of Medicine 334 (11): 688–92.
Crossref
PubMed
ISI
Google Scholar
Pryme I. F., Lembcke R. 2003. “In Vivo Studies on Possible Health Consequences of Genetically Modified Food and Feed—with Particular Regard to Ingredients Consisting of Genetically Modified Plant Materials.” Nutritional and Health 17 (1): 1–8.
Crossref
PubMed
Google Scholar
Pusztai A. 1999. “A Talk to the British Hungarian Fellowship, South Kensington, UK.” May 7. Accessed February 20, 2015. www.i-sis.org.uk/arpad.php.
Google Scholar
Pusztai A., Bardocz G. G., Alonso R., Chrispeels M. J., Schroeder H. E., Tabe L. M., Higgins T. J. 1999. “Expression of the Insecticidal Bean a-amylase Inhibitor Transgene Has Minimal Detrimental Effect on the Nutritional Value of Peas Fed to Rats at 30% of the Diet.” Journal of Nutrition 129 (8): 1597–603.
Crossref
PubMed
ISI
Google Scholar
Pusztai A. 2002a. “GM Food Safety: Scientific and Institutional Issues.” Science as Culture 11 (1): 69–92.
Crossref
Google Scholar
Pusztai A. 2002b. “Can Science Give Us the Tools for Recognizing Possible Health Risks of GM Food?” Nutrition and Health 16 (2): 73–84.
Crossref
PubMed
Google Scholar
Pusztai A., Bardocz S. eds. 1995. Lectins: Biomedical Perspectives. London, UK: Taylor & Francis.
Crossref
Google Scholar
Randerson J. 2008. “Arpad Pusztai: Biological Divide.” The Guardian. January 15. Accessed March 2, 2015. http://www.theguardian.com/education/2008/jan/15/academicexperts.highereducationprofile.
Google Scholar
Roberfroid M. 2014. “Letter to the Editor.” Food & Chemical Toxicology 65 (3): 390.
Crossref
ISI
Google Scholar
Roberts R. 2004. “GMOs Are a Key to Addressing Global Hunger.” Boston Globe, May 23, 2004. Accessed July 22, 2015. https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2014/05/23/gmos-are-key-tool-addressing-global-hunger/SPlNunvLl5WjovCpXvsihJ/story.html.
Google Scholar
Robinson C., Holland N., Leioup D., Muilerman H. 2013. “Conflicts of Interest at the European Food Safety Authority Erode Public Confidence.” Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health 67 (9): 717–20.
Crossref
PubMed
ISI
Google Scholar
RSC (Royal Society of Canada). 2001. Elements of Precaution: Recommendations for the Regulation of Food Biotechnology in Canada. January 2001. Accessed June 6, 2015. https://rsc-src.ca/sites/default/files/pdf/GMreportEN.pdf.
Google Scholar
Schubert D. 2002. “A Different Perspective on GM Food.” Nature Biotechnology 20 (10): 969.
Crossref
PubMed
ISI
Google Scholar
Séralini G.-E., Clair E., Mesnage R., Gress Steeve, Defarge Nicolas, Malatesta Manuela, Hennequin Didier, de Vendômois Joël Spiroux. 2012. “Long Term Toxicity of a Roundup Herbicide and a Roundup-tolerant Genetically Modified Maize.” Food and Chemical Toxicology 50 (11): 4221–31 (retracted 2014). Republished in Environmental Sciences Europe 26 (14): 1-17 (2014).
Crossref
PubMed
ISI
Google Scholar
Séralini G.-E., Mesnage R., Defarge N., Gress Steeve, Hennequin Didier, Clair Emilie, Malatesta Manuela, de Vendômois Joël Spiroux. 2013. “Answers to Critics: Why There Is a Long Term Toxicity Due to a Roundup-tolerant Genetically Modified Maize and to a Roundup Herbicide.” Food & Chemical Toxicology 53 (3): 476–83.
Crossref
ISI
Google Scholar
Séralini G.-E., Mesnage R., Defarge N., de Vendômois J. Spiroux. 2014. “Conflicts of Interests, Confidentiality and Censorship in Health Risk Assessment: The Example of an Herbicide and GMO.” Environmental Sciences Europe 26 (13): 1–6.
Google Scholar
Séralini G.-E., Mesnage R., Defarge N. 2014. “Conclusiveness of Toxicity Data and Double Standards.” Food & Chemical Toxicology 69 (7):357–59.
Crossref
ISI
Google Scholar
Séralini G.-E., de Vendômois J. Spiroux, Cellier D., Sultan Charles, Buiatti Marcello, Gallagher Lou, Antoniou Michael, Dronamraju Krishna R. 2009. “How Subchronic and Chronic Health Effects Can Be Neglected for GMOs, Pesticides or Chemicals.” International Journal of Biological Sciences 5 (5): 438–43.
Crossref
PubMed
ISI
Google Scholar
Snell C., Bernheim A., Berge J. B., Kuntz M., Pascal G., Paris A., Ricroch A. E. 2012. “Assessment of the Health Impact of GM Plant Diets in Long-term and Multigenerational Animal Feeding Trials: A Literature Review.” Food & Chemical Toxicology 50 (3-4): 1134–48.
Crossref
PubMed
ISI
Google Scholar
Society of Toxicology, Ad Hoc Working Group. 2003. “Society of Toxicology Position Paper: The Safety of Genetically Modified Foods Produced through Biotechnology.” Toxicological Sciences 71 (1): 2–8.
Crossref
PubMed
ISI
Google Scholar
Stogar E., Williams S., Christou P., Down R. E., Gatehouse J. A. 1999. “Expression of the Insecticidal Lectin from Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis Agglutinin; (GNA) in Transgenic Wheat Plants: Effects on Predation by the Grain Aphid Sitobion avenae.” Molecular Breeding 5 (1): 65–73.
Crossref
ISI
Google Scholar
van Damme E. J. M., Permans W. J., Pusztai A., Bardocz S. 1998. Handbook of Plant Lectins: Properties and Biomedical Applications. New York: John Wiley.
Google Scholar
Ward J. J., Sodhi J. S., McGriffin L. J., Buxton B. F., Jones D. T. 2004. “Prediction and Functional Analysis of Native Disorder in Proteins from Three Kingdoms of Life.” Journal of Molecular Biology 337 (3): 635–45.
Crossref
PubMed
ISI
Google Scholar
Wilson Margaret, Highfield Roger. 2002. “Starving Zambia rejects America's GM maize.” The Daily Telegraph (London), October 30. Accessed July 30, 2015. http://www.panapress.com/WHO-Director-General-clears-air-on-genetically-modified-food--13-461942-18-lang2-index.html.
Google Scholar
Zhang W., Shi F. 2011. “Do Genetically Modified Crops Affect Animal Reproduction? A Review of the Ongoing Debates.” Animal 5 (7): 1048–59.
Crossref
PubMed
ISI
Google Scholar

Biographies

Sheldon Krimsky is the Lenore Stern professor of humanities and social sciences in the Department of Urban & Environmental Policy & Planning and adjunct professor of public health and community medicine at Tufts University. He is the coeditor of The GMO Deception.

Cite article

Cite article

Cite article

OR

Download to reference manager

If you have citation software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice

Share options

Share

Share this article

Share with email
EMAIL ARTICLE LINK
Share on social media

Share access to this article

Sharing links are not relevant where the article is open access and not available if you do not have a subscription.

For more information view the Sage Journals article sharing page.

Information, rights and permissions

Information

Published In

Volume 40, Issue 6
Pages: 883 - 914
Article first published online: August 7, 2015
Issue published: November 2015

Keywords

  1. expertise
  2. methodologies
  3. methods
  4. politics
  5. power
  6. governance
  7. academic disciplines and traditions
  8. GMOs
  9. genetically modified crops
  10. health assessment
  11. conflict of interest
  12. scientific controversy

Rights and permissions

© The Author(s) 2015.
Request permissions for this article.

Authors

Affiliations

Sheldon Krimsky
Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA
[email protected]
View all articles by this author

Notes

Sheldon Krimsky, Tufts University, 97 Talbot Ave, Medford, MA 02155, USA. Email: [email protected]

Metrics and citations

Metrics

Journals metrics

This article was published in Science, Technology, & Human Values.

VIEW ALL JOURNAL METRICS

Article usage*

Total views and downloads: 10026

*Article usage tracking started in December 2016

Articles citing this one

Receive email alerts when this article is cited

Web of Science: 26 view articles Opens in new tab

Crossref: 29

  1. Could global norms enable definition of sustainable farming systems in...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  2. Agricultural GMOs and their associated pesticides: misinformation, sci...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  3. GMOs in Mediterranean & Balkan countries: state of affairs, research, ...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  4. Strategic science translation in emerging science: genetically modifie...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  5. Sheldon Krimsky: A Peer without Peer
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  6. GMO Labeling Policy and Consumer Choice
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  7. Will gene-edited and other GM crops fail sustainable food systems?
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  8. Public Acceptance of GM Foods: A Global Perspective (1999–2019)
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  9. Assessment of the Environmental and Health Impacts of Genetically Modi...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  10. Lifelong Consumption of Plant-Based GM Foods
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  11. Outcome of the public consultation on the draft Scientific Opinion on ...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  12. Is Opposition to Genetically Modified Food “Morally Absolutist”? A Con...
    Go to citation Crossref Google ScholarPub Med
  13. Corporate governance and the environment in the health sector: Systema...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  14. Isis Current Bibliography of the History of Science and Its Cultural I...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  15. Genetic Engineering and Society
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  16. Relationship between faecal microbiota and plasma metabolome in rats f...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  17. GMO AND HEALTH RISKS SELECTED ISSUES
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  18. A dramaturgia dos peritos na ciência regulatória brasileira: o caso da...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  19. Knowledge mapping of GMO/GMF research in social sphere
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  20. Lifelong Consumption of Plant-Based GM Foods
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  21. Scientific mistakes from the agri-food biotech critics
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  22. “Antiscience Zealotry”? Values, Epistemic Risk, and the GMO Debate
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  23. The GMO Industry: A Neglected Earthly Frontier
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  24. Frankenfish or Fish to Feed the World? Scientism and Biotechnology Reg...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  25. Genetically Modified Crops, Inclusion, and Democracy
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  26. Environmental impacts of genetically modified plants: A review
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  27. Environmental and Ecological Aspects in the Overall Assessment of Bioe...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  28. Attitudes toward genetically modified organisms in Poland: to GMO or n...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  29. Metabolomics: Applications to Food Safety and Quality Research
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar

Figures and tables

Figures & Media

Tables

View Options

Get access

Access options

If you have access to journal content via a personal subscription, university, library, employer or society, select from the options below:

Alternatively, view purchase options below:

Purchase 24 hour online access to view and download content.

Subscribe to this journal

Access journal content via a DeepDyve subscription or find out more about this option.

Start 2 week free trial
Need help?

View options

PDF/ePub

View PDF/ePub

Full Text

View Full Text
View full text|Download PDF

Also from Sage