Kellogg's Cereal is Not Poisoning Children With GMOs
The Claim
Toxic Genetically Modified Organisms, or GMOs, are used in the production of America’s Kellogg’s cereals, but not in other countries. This is poisoning U.S. children.
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GMO Free USA, a nonprofit organization, claims that the cereal brand Kellogg’s is actively poisoning children because of its use of GMOs in its cereals in America. Their suspicion is that because other countries have different regulations on GMOs, America’s own Food and Drug Administration is the problem.
The organization’s posts on social media have gained thousands of shares, claiming “Kellogg’s hates our children.” A petition against Kellogg’s use of GMOs has gained over 1,000 signatures on the GMO Free USA website, with another gaining over 60,000 signatures.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar’s investigation shows that in 2018, Kellogg’s Honey Smacks Cereal did cause salmonella poisoning in at least 135 people. However, there is no indication that this outbreak was the result of GMOs.
Also in 2018, the Environmental Working Group launched an investigation into oat based foods and discovered dangerous levels of the cancer causing weed killing chemical glyphosate in Kellogg’s products. GMOs were not involved in this discovery.
Kellogg’s states that it uses GMOs, “because there are many studies supported by respected institutions that show that they are safe to eat and offer other benefits for farmers and the planet.”
In America, the Food and Drug Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Agriculture regulate GMOs and ensure that they are safe for humans to consume.
A 2016 report by the National Academy of Sciences stated that GMO foods are as safe as non GMO foods. Regulations of GMO foods differ by country, but broad, international scientific consensus says that genetically modified crops are safe to eat.
