Introduction to GMOs: Myths and realities

Introduction to GMOs:Myths and realities Masami Takeuchi, Ph.D. Food Safety Officer

GMOs • Biotechnology: a wide range of technologies • GMO is one of them (plants, microorganisms and animals/fish) • Concerns: • Environmental health • Human health (food safety) • Socio-economic issues

GMO production • Total area of GM crops had risen

Share of countries

Distribution of GM crops in total GM cropareas

Proportion of GM cropas a % of totalindividual area under the crop

Commercialization of GM crops • 29 countries planted commercialized GM crops in 2010 • Additional 30 countries have granted regulatory approvals for GM crops for import, food and feed use and for release into the environment, since 1996

Regulatoryissues • Regulations and policies on GMOs vary by country • Food safety assessment • Environmental safety assessment • Consideration of socio-economic issues • Authorization process • Control and monitoring policy (including inspection and detection)

Foodsafetyprinciples • Are potatoes safe? • Is water safe? • Is maize safe? • Is chicken safe? • Food is not inherently safe! • Presumption of safety • History of safe use • No adverse effect • Knowledge and experience to mitigate hazards

Traditionalfoodsafetyassessment • Discrete chemical entity • Established studies identifying and characterizing hazard • “Safe” levels of exposure • Risk of adverse health effect and its impact known

Whole Foods = Chemicals • Traditional risk assessment not designed for whole foods • Whole foods differ from chemicals!

How to assess “NEW” and “WHOLE” foods? • New foods or added substances with no presumption of safety • How to approach novel whole foods? • Traditional risk assessment does not fit

Questions so far?

Introduction to GMOs: Myths and realities