Safety and commercialization of gene-edited foods

Gene editing (GE) as a biotechnological tool offers distinct improvements in agricultural production over genetic modification. These include lower cost, shorter time for development and lower risk, which may be attributed to the exclusion of foreign genetic materials in the technique. Despite the many benefits that GE presents, there are still concerns about the toxicity and allergenicity of gene-edited foods, and the safety impacts on consumer health and the environment. Whilst recognizing these legitimate concerns, the technology is gaining rapid development by the day, and more information is available on GE and its impacts on public health and environmental sustainability. Successful commercialization of GE products will largely depend on transparency and effectiveness of regulatory framework and well-structured societal introduction. Furthermore, considerations will need to be given to market dynamics, ethical and social concerns, and technological advancements. This chapter presents relevant information on the safety and commercialization of GE foods, with the objective of providing a balance to public perceptions of the complexity of GE technology.