Browse GMO Claims
Explore 12 claims fact-checked against scientific evidence.
a number of countries adapted the cartegegena protocal
As of 2026, 173 countries (Parties) have ratified or acceded to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. This legally binding treaty, adopted on January 29, 2000, as a supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity, governs the safe handling, transport, and use of living modified organisms (LMOs) resulting from modern biotechnology
NATURAL SELECTION LEADS TO A GMO
People have been altering the genomes of plants and animals for many years using traditional breeding techniques. Artificial selection for specific, desired traits has resulted in a variety of different organisms, ranging from sweet corn to hairless cats. But this artificial selection, in which organisms that exhibit specific traits are chosen to breed subsequent generations, has been limited to naturally occurring variations. In recent decades, however, advances in the field of genetic engineering have allowed for precise control over the genetic changes introduced into an organism. Today, we can incorporate new genes from one species into a completely unrelated species through genetic engineering, optimizing agricultural performance or facilitating the production of valuable pharmaceutical substances. Crop plants, farm animals, and soil bacteria are some of the more prominent examples of organisms that have been subject to genetic engineering.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation released genetically modified mosquitoes in Nairobi
The claim, which went viral in early February 2026, alleges that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation secretly released genetically modified (GM) mosquitoes in Nairobi, causing an unusual surge in insects that are reportedly more aggressive and resistant to repellents.
Are hybrid maize seeds GMO?
Hybrid maize seeds are not necessarily GMO. While both represent advanced breeding methods, they are distinct technologies that use different processes to improve crop traits. Summary of Differences Production Method: Hybridization involves the natural cross-pollination of two different parent plants within the same species to combine their best traits. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are created in a laboratory using genetic engineering to insert specific genes—often from entirely different species—directly into a plant's DNA. Gene Sources: Hybrids only contain genes that are native to that plant species. GMOs can incorporate foreign genes, such as DNA from bacteria, to give plants "superpowers" like natural pest resistance (e.g., Bt maize). Seed Saving: Neither hybrid nor GMO seeds are ideal for replanting. Saved hybrid seeds will not "breed true," leading to significantly lower yields and unpredictable traits in the next generation. GMO seeds are often patented, and legal agreements may explicitly forbid farmers from saving them. Accessibility: Hybrid seeds are widely available to both commercial farmers and home gardeners. GMO seeds are highly regulated and typically sold only to large-scale commercial growers under strict contracts; they are not sold to home gardeners
all GMO must be verified
Genetically modified organisms (GMO) are cultivated worldwide. The genes of plants are modified to provide the plants with herbicide tolerances or genes for the production of their own insecticides. Most GMO are corn, soy or cotton. In the EU, GMOs may only be cultivated or placed on the market as food if they are approved. Food containing GMO material not authorised in the EU is therefore not marketable in the EU. According to Regulation (EC) 1829/2003, genetically modified material in food must be labelled. According to Article 12 (2) of Regulation (EC) 1829/2003, food containing authorised GMO must not be labelled if it does not exceed 0.9 % of the food and is adventitious or technically unavoidable. GMO can only be detected from DNA in pollen of honey but the proportion of pollen in honey never exceeds 0.9 %. So honey is covered by this derogation. Therefore, honey, even if it contains authorised GMOs, does not have to be labelled as GMO food.
Safety of GMOs for human consumption
Safety of GMOs for human consumption is strongly supported by extensive scientific research and strict regulatory assessments conducted over several decades. Before approval, genetically modified foods undergo rigorous testing to evaluate potential health risks, including toxicity, allergenicity, and nutritional equivalence, ensuring they meet established safety standards. Major scientific organizations have consistently concluded that approved GMO products are as safe as conventional foods, and their widespread consumption globally without proven adverse health effects further reinforces confidence in their safety for humans.
GMOs are safe for human consumption
The safety of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) for human consumption is strongly supported by a global scientific consensus grounded in decades of rigorous evaluation, including toxicological, allergenicity, and nutritional assessments conducted under internationally recognized frameworks such as the World Health Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization, and European Food Safety Authority. Approved GMO products undergo case-by-case risk assessment based on the principle of substantial equivalence, ensuring that any differences from conventional counterparts are thoroughly characterized and found not to pose harm. Long-term feeding studies and post-market surveillance have consistently shown no credible evidence of adverse health effects, a conclusion further reinforced by authoritative bodies like the National Academy of Sciences, which report that GM foods currently on the market are as safe as their non-GM counterparts; thus, when developed and regulated under established biosafety protocols, GMOs represent a scientifically validated and safe component of the human food supply.
GMO crops have higher yields than conventional varieties
Genetically modified crops consistently produce higher yields than their conventional counterparts under all growing conditions.
The scientific consensus supports GMO safety
Major scientific organizations worldwide, including the WHO, NAS, and EFSA, have concluded that currently approved GMO foods are safe to eat.
GMOs cause gluten intolerance and celiac disease
The rise in GMO wheat and other crops is directly responsible for the increase in gluten intolerance and celiac disease diagnoses.
Bt crops reduce insecticide use significantly
Crops engineered with Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxin have been shown to reduce insecticide applications by up to 50% in some regions.
GMO seeds cannot be saved and replanted by farmers
Farmers who use GMO seeds are legally and technically prevented from saving seeds for replanting, creating dependency on seed companies.