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| '''Genetically modified food''' is food produced from ]. | '''Genetically modified food''' is ] produced from ]. | ||
| The phrase '''genetically modified food''' is a misnomer, as it is not the food itself that has been modified but the ingredients that went into the food. | The phrase '''genetically modified food''' is a misnomer, as it is not the food itself that has been modified but the ingredients that went into the food. | ||
| ] in Europe at the end of the 90ies, such as the ] outbreaks, in addition to the way the biotechnology industry has handled the issue, have created consumer apprehension about ]. There is a widespread public concern about GMOs, in terms of environmental protection (in particular ]), health and safety of consumers and right to make an ].<br> | |||
| The apprehension might also be due to the novel nature of GM foods, as well as cultural factors relating to food. | |||
| Moreover, serious scientific mistakes were made (scientists said the "mad cow" could not jump the species barrier, which was later proven wrong), and consequently, science is no longer a ] any more in Europe.<br> | |||
| Although some claim genetically modified foods may even be safer than | |||
| ] products, many european consumers are nevertheless demanding that be respected their "right to know" the content and origin of the food they consume. Besides, in a context of ], GM food has little added value, the european ] is wondering why any risk should be taken. | |||
| For these reasons, the marketing of GMO food is regulated in a manner that help to provide the necessary levels of safety, transparency and | |||
| reassurance. Beginning of the 2000ies, European officials insisted that new regulations were needed to "restore consumer confidence" in the technology. These new regulations required strict ] and ] of all food and ] containing more than 0.5 percent GM ingredients. Directives, such as directive 2001/18/EC, were designed to require authorisation for the placing on the market of GMO, in accordance with the ]. | |||
| One of the features of the european system is a comprehensive ], a system trying to provide means for products to be followed at each stage of their production and distribution, by both transmission of accurate information and labelling. This traceability is a means to implement post-market measures such as ] and ].<br> | |||
| This system is not only limited to GMO products but should englobe any food product ultimately. | |||
| In GMO products, traceability is usually limited to products where transformed ] and/or transformed ] are detectables, not to products that have been produced from GMOs but no longer contain modified DNA and/or proteins.<br> | |||
| Officials stress out that whilst traceability facilitates the implementation of safety measures, where appropriate, it cannot and should not be considered as a safety measure. | |||
| In 1999, a 4 years ban was pronounced on new genetically modified crops. At the end of 2002, ] environment ministers agreed new controls on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) could eventually lead the 15-member bloc to reopen its markets to GM foods. European Union ministers agreed new labelling controls for genetically modified goods which will have to carry a special harmless DNA sequence (a ]) identifing the origin of the crops, making it easier for regulators to spot contaminated crops, feed, or food, and enabling products to be withdrawn from the food chain if problems arise. A series of additional sequences of DNA with encrypted information about the company or what was done to the product could also be added to provide more data. | |||
| ''See also'' ], ] | |||
Revision as of 18:04, 28 April 2003
Genetically modified food is food produced from genetically modified organism.
The phrase genetically modified food is a misnomer, as it is not the food itself that has been modified but the ingredients that went into the food.
Food crisis in Europe at the end of the 90ies, such as the mad cow disease outbreaks, in addition to the way the biotechnology industry has handled the issue, have created consumer apprehension about food safety. There is a widespread public concern about GMOs, in terms of environmental protection (in particular biodiversity), health and safety of consumers and right to make an informed choice.
The apprehension might also be due to the novel nature of GM foods, as well as cultural factors relating to food.
Moreover, serious scientific mistakes were made (scientists said the "mad cow" could not jump the species barrier, which was later proven wrong), and consequently, science is no longer a quality label any more in Europe.
Although some claim genetically modified foods may even be safer than
conventional products, many european consumers are nevertheless demanding that be respected their "right to know" the content and origin of the food they consume. Besides, in a context of food surplus, GM food has little added value, the european consumer is wondering why any risk should be taken.
For these reasons, the marketing of GMO food is regulated in a manner that help to provide the necessary levels of safety, transparency and reassurance. Beginning of the 2000ies, European officials insisted that new regulations were needed to "restore consumer confidence" in the technology. These new regulations required strict labeling and traceability of all food and animal feed containing more than 0.5 percent GM ingredients. Directives, such as directive 2001/18/EC, were designed to require authorisation for the placing on the market of GMO, in accordance with the precautionary principle.
One of the features of the european system is a comprehensive pre-market risk assessment, a system trying to provide means for products to be followed at each stage of their production and distribution, by both transmission of accurate information and labelling. This traceability is a means to implement post-market measures such as monitoring and withdrawals.
This system is not only limited to GMO products but should englobe any food product ultimately.
In GMO products, traceability is usually limited to products where transformed DNA and/or transformed protein are detectables, not to products that have been produced from GMOs but no longer contain modified DNA and/or proteins.
Officials stress out that whilst traceability facilitates the implementation of safety measures, where appropriate, it cannot and should not be considered as a safety measure.
In 1999, a 4 years ban was pronounced on new genetically modified crops. At the end of 2002, European Union environment ministers agreed new controls on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) could eventually lead the 15-member bloc to reopen its markets to GM foods. European Union ministers agreed new labelling controls for genetically modified goods which will have to carry a special harmless DNA sequence (a DNA code bar) identifing the origin of the crops, making it easier for regulators to spot contaminated crops, feed, or food, and enabling products to be withdrawn from the food chain if problems arise. A series of additional sequences of DNA with encrypted information about the company or what was done to the product could also be added to provide more data.
See also conventional food, organic food