Can genetically modified produce cause cancer?

There is no proven evidence of a link between genetically modified foods now on the market and cancer risk. Genetically modified (GM) crops have genes altered or genes from other plants or organisms added to increase a plant’s yield or improve it some way.

Genetic modification technology is used in food crops to increase the nutritional quality, increase the hardiness, improve pest or disease resistance and increase herbicide tolerance. Only genetically modified cotton and canola crops are grown in Australia, but some imported foods contain genetically modified ingredients, derived from soybeans, canola, corn and sugar beet.

Food Standards Australia New Zealand approves GM food ingredients imported from overseas. However, while there is no evidence to date that eating GM foods will increase your risk of cancer, these foods have only been around for a relatively short time, so we can’t say with certainty that there won’t be any long-term health effects. It’s important that authorities continue to assess the safety of GM foods.

When talking about what to eat, Cancer Council recommends eating a variety of nutritious foods and limiting the amount of ultra processed food we eat. Eating these foods and avoiding excess weight is the best way we can eat to prevent cancer.