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Tijjani MB, Ibrahim AM. Evaluating the safety of genetically modified crops: Findings from toxicological meta-research. Bìol Tvarin. 2025; 27 (3): 27–41. DOI: 10.15407/animbiol27.03.027.
https://doi.org/10.15407/animbiol27.03.027
Received 23.04.2025 ▪ Revision 04.08.2025 ▪ Accepted 18.08.2025 ▪ Published online 22.10.2025
Evaluating the safety of genetically modified crops: Findings from toxicological meta-research
Mohammed Bashir Tijjani¹, Adamkolo Mohammed Ibrahim²
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¹University of Maiduguri, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, 1069 Baama-Maiduguri Road, Maiduguri, Borno State, 600104, Nigeria
²University of Maiduguri, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Mass Communication,1069 Baama-Maiduguri Road, Maiduguri, Borno State, 600104, Nigeria
This meta-analysis examined the safety of genetically modified (GM) crops by collating findings from controlled animal feeding trials and human observational studies published between 2017 and 2025. The investigation critically assessed acute and chronic toxicity, allergenicity, metabolic disturbances and carcinogenic endpoints, focusing on research from Nigeria, Africa and Western regions (Europe and the USA). Advanced statistical methods, including random-effects modelling, subgroup analyses and meta-regression, were employed to quantify heterogeneity and evaluate the robustness of the evidence. The findings are presented in percentage terms to facilitate a clear summary of the safety profile of GM crops. The analysis indicates that genetically modified foods are not acutely toxic while some studies reported minor metabolic and immunological changes on chronic or prolonged exposure. Discrepancies in chronic toxicity findings were largely due to variations in experimental model, study design and sample size. Therefore, overall evidence supports the general safety of GM crops under current testing protocols; however, some uncertainties persist regarding long-term effects. Hence, the paper concluded that safety depends on the type of modifications made. Insect-resistant and pesticide-tolerant modifications are more associated with safety concerns than any other type, like biofortified modification.
Key words: genetically modified crops, toxicological safety, meta-research, crop-vigilance, risk assessment
