The community study has begun

Given a lack of evidence to accurately determine the risks and benefits of genetically modified foods (GMOs), an intense debate continues between its promoters and opponents. Some authors highlight the advantages of consuming GMOs, for example, their ability to address certain needs such as hunger. They also believe non-GMOs have not been sufficiently studied, some of which have been documented as allergenic or carcinogenic under certain conditions. On the other hand, those who question consuming GMOs believe that their effects on health have not been sufficiently studied, that they may be allergenic and could produce antibiotic resistance and probable carcinogenic effects. Nevertheless, most of these statements are based on in vitro or animal experiments, the latter generally corresponding to short time periods for which long-term effects cannot be detected (1). Given the type of evidence available, various uncertainties exist when extrapolating the results to the human population. Scientific evidence based on epidemiological studies is therefore necessary (2,3), but this requires addressing certain difficulties such as having databases that identify the properties of the product and obtaining data that indicate whether persons who have consumed GMOs have had any health problems. It is also necessary to evaluate the effects and determine how they will be evaluated and how exposure will be measured. Another difficulty is identifying comparable populations with other types of consumption (4). Lacking more evidence about these products, especially epidemiological, it is difficult to understand the emphasis on their consumption not being associated with any risks. What is clear is that “the study has begun” with large groups of populations that have already begun to consume these foods.

• Autores: Gomez Camponovo, Mariana
• Tipo de recurso: Article of journal
• Fecha de publicación: 2016
• Institución: Universidad Nacional de Colombia
• Repositorio: Universidad Nacional de Colombia
• Idioma: spa
• OAI Identifier: oai:repositorio.unal.edu.co:unal/65628
• Acceso en línea: https://repositorio.unal.edu.co/handle/unal/65628; http://bdigital.unal.edu.co/66651/
• Palabra clave: 36 Problemas y servicios sociales, asociaciones / Social problems and social services; 61 Ciencias médicas; Medicina / Medicine and health; Genetically modified organism; food security
• Rights: openAccess
• License: Atribución-NoComercial 4.0 Internacional