By Esther Bassey,Sydney Elike

Copyright thesun

By Esther Bassey

For years, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have been promoted as safe, efficient, and environmentally friendly.

But according to Thrive Market, a membership-based online retailer specialising in organic and sustainable food products, much of what consumers have been told about GMOs is far from the truth.

Here are five myths that continue to shape the debate:

1. GMOs are completely safe to eat

Supporters often say GMO foods are harmless, but scientists are still divided.

Thrive Market points out that many GMO crops are sprayed with glyphosate, a weed killer the World Health Organisation has linked to possible cancer risks.

The long-term effects of eating GMO products remain uncertain.

2. GMOs reduce the need for chemicals

The opposite seems to be happening. Since most GMO crops are designed to withstand herbicides, farmers are encouraged to spray more.

In the U.S. alone, over 2.6 billion pounds of glyphosate have been used in the past two decades, according to the report.

3. GMOs permanently solve pest and weed problems

While GMOs were created to fight pests and weeds, nature is adapting.

Thrive Market warns that “superweeds” and resistant insects are spreading, forcing farmers to use even stronger and more toxic chemicals.

4. GMOs have no impact on the environment

The environmental toll is real. Pesticide use contaminates air and water, while farmland loses vital nutrients.

The report stresses that topsoil is disappearing up to 40 times faster than it can be naturally restored.

5. GMOs don’t need labelling

Food giants have long resisted GMO labelling, claiming it would confuse buyers and raise prices.

But Thrive Market highlights Vermont’s GMO labelling law as proof that transparency can be achieved without burdening consumers.

At the heart of the GMO debate is consumer choice. Thrive Market argues that people deserve clear, honest information about what they eat, rather than being fed myths designed to protect powerful agribusiness interests.

Without transparency, consumers are left in the dark about the hidden health and environmental costs tied to their meals.

As calls for accountability grow louder, one thing is clear: the right to know what’s on your plate is no longer a demand; it’s a necessity.