Final answer:
The FDA considers GE foods as safe as those developed through traditional breeding methods. Major scientific organizations support this view, confirming no substantiated evidence of harm from genetically modified foods. Ongoing research continues to monitor potential allergenic effects and environmental impacts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) evaluates genetically engineered (GE) foods to ensure they are safe before they can be marketed. While some genes used in GE crops may be new to the food supply, raising concerns about potential allergens, the FDA considers GE foods to be as safe as those developed by conventional breeding methods. This stance aligns with conclusions from authoritative organizations such as the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM), the American Medical Association, and the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization, which have all found no substantiated evidence that genetically modified foods are harmful to human health. NASEM's GE Crop Report further emphasizes the importance of assessing the risks of new plant varieties based on the end product rather than the process used to create them, whether it be traditional breeding or genetic engineering. Although the biotechnology field does raise legal, ethical, and social issues, including the rights surrounding genetic information and patenting of organisms, the scientific consensus supports the safety of GE crops for human consumption and the environment. However, the potential allergenic effects and ecological impact of GE crops continue to be areas for ongoing study.In the realm of organic farming, there are challenges such as inadvertent contamination of organic crops with GE material, which contradicts the strict standards set by organic certification bodies that prohibit the use of GE crops in organic agriculture.