Genetically modified food: benefits, safety aspects and concerns

Genetic engineering is a revolutionary new technology. Genetically-modified foods have the potential to solve many of the world's hunger and malnutrition problems. Genetically modified crops are being produced that are more resistant to pests, tolerant to herbicides and more nutritious. However, there are concerns about the safety of genetically modified crops. The concerns are that they may contain allergenic substances due to introduction of new genes into crops. The review of available literature indicates that the genetically modified crops available in the market intended for human consumption are generally safe; their consumption is not associated with serious health problems. However, because of potential for exposure of a large segment of human population to genetically modified foods, more research is needed to ensure that the genetically modified foods are safe for human consumption.