What are some challenges presented by genetically modified foods?

Question

Besides ethical ones, can genetically modified foods be risky to humans? How can those challenges be overcome to increase the benefits to mankind?

Answer 1

The greatest danger is the fact that no one has the complete answer to your question. Habitats all over the world have been damaged, destroyed, or altered by invasion of non-native species. That's a hazard even without GM. By the time someone discovers a particular strain of GM corn is a hazard, it will have spread far beyond the area of its initial planting. Notice how hard it is to contain mad cow disease or avian flu or HIV.

The way to overcome the challenges is to study them thoroughly before deploying them, giving them as much protection as you would a live Cholera culture.