The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has as its job to determine the safety of food, feed additives, veterinary drugs, human drugs and medical devices.
“Years ago, the agency could have regulated GE [genetically engineered] products as additives, requiring that they be tested for allergens and toxic substances. However, the FDA regulates GE products under a provision known as GRAS (‘Generally Regarded As Safe’) of the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act. All companies planning to market a genetically modified crop are advised to consult with the FDA prior to release and to submit safety data related to the presence of natural toxins, potential allergens, nutritional value, stability of the inserted gene, and assessment of unintended consequences.”
Even though the study of genes is still in its relative infancy, and genetic engineering is a new and unpredictable science, the FDA chose to overlook this and consider genetically engineered crops to be safe. This sounds like a risky proposition for all of us who unknowingly eat these foods every day.
The FDA essentially left it up to the biotech companies to voluntarily share their information. There is no required safety testing, even by a third party. The companies are merely “advised” to submit safety data.
“David Schubert, a medical researcher at California’s Salk Institute, says: ‘The picture that emerges from our study of U.S. regulation of GE foods is a rubber stamp ‘approval process’ designed to increase public confidence in, but not ensure the safety of, genetically engineered foods.’
“William Freese, a research analyst with the environmental organization Friends of the Earth, adds that ‘GM regulation in the U.S. bears as little relation to good science as the typical used car ad to the true state of the automobile. Both are designed to sell a product.’ An independent British study released earlier in the year [2008] came to similar conclusions regarding the safety of existing GE crops.”
It doesn’t look like the FDA is looking out for our safety.
(Quoted text above from Superfood or Superthreat: The Issue of Genetically Engineered Food by Kathlyn Gay.)