“GMO,” which stands for genetically modified organism, refers to any

organism whose DNA has been modified using genetic engineering

technology.

In the food industry, GMO crops have had genes added to them for various
reasons, such as improving their growth, nutritional content, sustainability,
pest resistance, and ease of farming.While it’s possible to naturally give
foods desirable traits through selective breeding, this process takes many
generations. Also, breeders may struggle to determine which genetic
change has led to a new trait.

Genetic modification significantly accelerates this process by using

scientific techniques that give the plant the specific desired trait.

For example, one of the most common GMO crops is Bt corn, which is
genetically modified to produce the insecticide Bt toxin. By making this
toxin, the corn is able to resist pests, reducing the need for p

GMO crops are incredibly common in the United States, with at least 90%
of soy, cotton, and corn being grown through genetic techniques (4

In fact, it’s estimated that up to 80% of foods in supermarkets contain

ingredients that come from genetically modified crops.

While GMO crops make farming much easier, there is some concern
around their potential effect on the environment and their safety for human
consumption — specifically surrounding illnesses and allergies (5
However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), and USDA maintain that GMOs are safe for
human and animal consumption