In a landmark vote, California recently rejected a ballot initiative that would have required genetically modified foods (GMO) to be labeled as such. Dr. Andrew Weil tells Newsmax Health that he believes GMO foods may be safe, but consumers should be allowed to know when they are eating them.

By Dr. Andrew Weil

I'm not opposed to all genetic modification. The real question is what are the long-term consequences of it, both for individual health and for the environment.
Most people are unaware that about 90 percent of corn and soybeans grown in the United States are GMO, and these crops end up in cereals, snack foods, salad dressings, and other foods we regularly consume.
While no food safety issues have yet emerged as a result of the consumption of GMO foods, some experts say it’s too soon to know for certain if there might be any negative impact on human health associated with them. The issue is complex and many questions remain unanswered.
At the least, I think we should know when we are buying altered foods. For me, labeling GMO makes sense. In the case of soy foods, for example, I would only buy products with the USDA Organic label, which guarantees they are GMO free, meaning no genetic modification.

-- With Marti Lotman


Andrew Weil, M.D., is Founder and Director, Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine at the College of Medicine, University of Arizona, and Director of Integrative Health and Healing, Miraval Resort. He is a pioneer in the field of integrative medicine, which combines conventional medicine with alternative approaches. He received his medical degree from Harvard University. His new book is "True Food: Seasonal, Sustainable, Simple, Pure."