Safety of Food and Beverages: Safety of Genetically Modified Foods

Genetically modified microorganisms (GMOs) have been developed through engineering of the genome by inserting desirable genes or deleting undesirable genes. Most applications have been with crops, where genes inserted into the plants provide resistance to a herbicide or produce an insecticide. However, many applications have yet to reach the market, because many governments disagree on how to set the approval standards. For instance, the concept of substantial equivalence in the US and Canada is interpreted less strictly than requirements in the European Union. Nevertheless, GMO research is expected to continue to satisfy food security concerns and adaption to climate change.