If pests are not interested in eating GMO then why should we be interested in eating and think that it is safe merely because those who stand to profit from it say so?

Expert response from Tom Eickoff, Ph.D.

Agronomic Systems Lead, Bayer Crop Science

Thursday, 15/10/2015 13:40

The use of the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) organism and its insecticidal proteins to control insect pests has been a very effective tool in protecting the yield potential of various crops, in both organic and GMO cropping systems. The way in which GMO crops containing Bt genes protect themselves is not by causing the insects to avoid feeding on them, but in fact pest readily eat  Bt corn. The Bt protein is only effective in controlling the insect if the insect feeds on and ingests plant material that contains the insecticidal protein.

Bt is a very common bacterium that is found in soil and plants and has been used for controlling pests in farming for more than 50 years. During that time it has been extensively studied and proven to be very safe to humans. The safety of GMOs have been confirmed by more than 1700 studies, scientific organizations including the American Medical Association, the World Health Organization as well as the food regulatory bodies and regulatory agencies of many governments including the United States and European Union. In fact, since 1994, 3,083+ regulatory approvals have been issued by competent authorities in a total of 38 countries (ISAAA.org). One of the reasons for this safety consensus is because the Bt proteins are very specific to insects. When these Bt proteins are ingested by insects they affect very specific gut receptors in the susceptible insects, since these receptors are not present in other organisms like humans, there is no means for them to affect human guts. 

Expert response from Tom Eickoff, Ph.D.

Agronomic Systems Lead, Bayer Crop Science

Thursday, 15/10/2015 13:40

The use of the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) organism and its insecticidal proteins to control insect pests has been a very effective tool in protecting the yield potential of various crops, in both organic and GMO cropping systems. The way in which GMO crops containing Bt genes protect themselves is not by causing the insects to avoid feeding on them, but in fact pest readily eat  Bt corn. The Bt protein is only effective in controlling the insect if the insect feeds on and ingests plant material that contains the insecticidal protein.

Bt is a very common bacterium that is found in soil and plants and has been used for controlling pests in farming for more than 50 years. During that time it has been extensively studied and proven to be very safe to humans. The safety of GMOs have been confirmed by more than 1700 studies, scientific organizations including the American Medical Association, the World Health Organization as well as the food regulatory bodies and regulatory agencies of many governments including the United States and European Union. In fact, since 1994, 3,083+ regulatory approvals have been issued by competent authorities in a total of 38 countries (ISAAA.org). One of the reasons for this safety consensus is because the Bt proteins are very specific to insects. When these Bt proteins are ingested by insects they affect very specific gut receptors in the susceptible insects, since these receptors are not present in other organisms like humans, there is no means for them to affect human guts.