Chen Junshi: Genetically modified foods do not constitute food safety issues

The development of genetically modified organisms has always been of great concern both at home and abroad. From the end of November 2009, the transgenic insect-resistant rice obtained the production application safety certificate issued by the Ministry of Agriculture. Until now, the issue of the safety of genetically modified crops has been one of the hot topics of public opinion. Regarding the public’s doubts about the safety of genetically modified crops, academician Chen Junshi, an internationally renowned food safety expert, chairman of the International Codex Committee on Food Additives, and the Institute of Nutrition and Food Safety, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, believes that it is necessary to clarify some false rumours in time and tell the public about genetic modification. Knowledge of genetically engineered crops, genetically modified organisms, and genetically modified organisms provides the public with an accurate understanding of the actual situation of genetically modified foods, so as to avoid being affected by all kinds of rumours and causing the public to fall into some misunderstandings.

First, natural food does not mean safe food

The birth of any new crop variety is the result of genetic changes, which is the root of agricultural development. Why didn't anyone question the hybrid rice variety? Because people generally believe that the traditional method of hybridization is safe, and human genetic changes are not safe, the same misunderstandings appear in the understanding of food additives, that is, natural food additives are safe, and chemical synthesis of food Additives are unsafe. In fact, natural food additives are also toxic and harmful, and chemical synthesis of scientifically assessed remains safe. For genetically modified crops, the number of genetic changes is much lower than traditional cross breeding methods, and the choice of genetic locus is more accurate.

Second, there is no zero-risk food

Food safety is a relative and dynamic concept. No food is 100% safe. Zero-risk food safety does not exist. The World Health Organization has a clear definition of unsafe foods, that is, public health problems that have harmful effects on human health caused by toxic and hazardous substances in foods. There are two key words in this definition. One is toxic and harmful substances, and the other is the adverse effect on human health. These two keywords must coexist at the same time to constitute an unsafe food incident.

Poisonous and harmful substances are common in the environment (including food) in which we live. The key lies in the content. To a certain extent, toxic and hazardous substances can cause harm to health. For example, for pesticides that the country allows, we do not specify that the pesticide residues in foods are equal to zero, but rather the maximum amount of pesticide residues in foods, as long as it does not exceed the limit, it is qualified, and if it exceeds the limit, it is unqualified. The state is very cautious when formulating the maximum allowable content standards for toxic and hazardous substances in foods, generally adding 100 times the safety factor. Foods that exceed the standard are unqualified foods and are not allowed to be sold. So we must carry out risk assessment. From the perspective of government management, illegally used and excessive standards are not allowed to enter the market. For example, Sudan Red was not a government-approved feed additive and food additive during the previous Sudanese incident. Therefore, it is illegal to put Sudan Red into the duck feed to enter duck eggs, and the government resolutely banned it.

Third, genetically modified foods do not constitute food safety issues

According to the definition of food safety, on the one hand, genetically modified foods do not contain toxic and hazardous substances, let alone quantity, so that genetically modified foods do not constitute food safety issues. On the other hand, the research and development of GM crops have a complete set of strict supervision and management procedures. In terms of production, there are also certain production specifications and strict management requirements, which are consistent with the production of other traditional products.

(Feng Hua)

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