Food Safety

The use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in food products necessitates assessment of potential health effects. Specific concerns include the transfer of genes that may create an allergic reaction and the use of antibiotic resistance markers in genetically modified foods. With international movement of food products, it becomes necessary to consider cultural and religious prohibitions that may require identification of introduced genes. Debate over mandatory labeling of genetically modified food products has become an issue at both national and international levels.

Formal international discussion of labeling first occurred at a meeting of the Codex Alimentarius Commission in 1994, prompted by the commercial release of the first GM plant in the US, the Flavr Savr tomato. Some members, such as the EU countries and India support mandatory labeling of all GM products. Other nations, including the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Peru, and Brazil, contend that labeling should only be necessary if GM foods are "non-equivalent," causing a change in nutritional value or introducing an allergen. Continuing debate is being moderated by the Codex Ad Hoc Task Force on Foods Derived from Biotechnology.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO) have also been critical players in the international consideration of the safety and nutrition of GM foods. The first report of the FAO/WHO Consultation on Biotechnology and Food Safety was published in 1996. A series of expert consultations was begun in 1999 to further discuss the issues. At the First Consultation in Geneva in 2000, the conclusion supported the notion of substantial equivalence as a determinant of the need for labeling

This information was drawn from the following sites:

Applications of Biotechnology to Crops: Benefits and Risks
Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) Issue
Paper #12
http://www.cast-science.org/biotc_ip.htm

ISAAA Background and Rationale Document http://www.isaaa.org/activities/food_safety_backgrnd_doc.htm

For further information see the following sites:

1996 FAO/WHO Report on Biotechnology and Food Safety
http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/FAOINFO/ECONOMIC/ESN
/biotech/tabconts.htm

Codex Alimentarius: What is it
http://www.fao.org/docrep/w9114e/w9114e01.htm

Codex Task Force on Food Derived from Biotechnology
ftp://ftp.fao.org/codex/ALINORM01/al01_34e.pdf

Evaluation of Allergenicity of Genetically Modified Foods
Report of joint FAO/WHO consultation, 2001
http://www.fao.org/es/esn/gm/allergygm.pdf

Safety Aspects of Genetically Modified Foods of Plant Origin
Report of joint FAO/WHO consultation, 2000
http://www.fao.org/es/esn/gm/gmreport.pdf

SAAA Food Safety Initiative
“Building institutional capacity in the development and operation of effective food safety review and approval systems, with emphasis on harmonized regulations across regions.”
http://www.isaaa.org/activities/food_safety.htm

Labelling of Genetically Modified Food, Consumers International
http://www.consumersinternational.org/campaigns/wcrd/gmolabel.html

International Consumer Perspective
Links to news reports
http://www.biotech-info.net/consumer_choice.html#international

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