BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Transgenic technology helps to increase agricultural production.
1983, the world's first tobacco containing antibiotics was successfully cultivated in the United States. 10 years later, the United States made every effort to develop transgenic technology and promote its commercialization, and the first market-oriented genetically modified food-extended ripening tomato appeared in the United States. After 1996, genetically modified foods spread all over the world at an alarming rate. Because of the great potential of transgenic innovation and technology in ensuring stable and high agricultural production, it is of great significance to developing countries facing serious food shortage.
In China, Guangzhou has been engaged in the research of genetically modified crops for five or six years, especially the research of genetically modified vegetables, even reaching the domestic advanced level. But it has not been allowed to promote (large-scale planting and listing).
30% of Guangzhou people don't know about "genetically modified"
Faced with so many genetically modified foods, how many people know about genetically modified foods? How many people know that they are eating genetically modified?
From June 65438+ 10 to June 165438+ 10 last year, Dr. Zhou Daming, head of the anthropology department of Sun Yat-sen University, conducted a survey on the safety awareness of genetically modified food among more than 800 citizens in Guangzhou, and found that nearly13 of the citizens had never heard of genetically modified food. Most of the people who have heard of genetically modified foods can't explain them accurately.
People prefer non-GM food.
In the case that the safety of genetically modified food is still uncertain, Guangzhou people have a natural resistance to genetically modified food. Dr Zhou Daming's survey shows that consumers prefer non-GM foods when they have the right to choose. Regardless of the price, about 56% people said they would choose non-GM food, only about 1 1% people chose GM food, and about 30% respondents answered "I don't know/don't know". The elderly and women show a stronger preference for non-GM foods, which may be due to the spontaneous risk aversion consciousness of these two groups.
Citizens demand the right to know about genetically modified foods.
Although nearly 30% of Guangzhou people don't know what genetically modified food is, among the 800 respondents, 704 people still think that food production enterprises and supermarkets should let consumers know what genetically modified food is, accounting for 87% of the valid answers; Only 2% people think it doesn't matter. Among the respondents, 67 1 people think it is necessary or urgent to establish a transgenic labeling system, accounting for 83% of the valid answers, while only 22 people think it is unnecessary, accounting for only 3%. It fully shows that ordinary citizens attach importance to the right to know about genetically modified foods and generally support the labeling system of genetically modified foods.
Mrs. Li, who lives in Tianhe North Road, told reporters that she knew about "genetically modified food" from the newspaper a long time ago, and probably knew that this kind of food was unnatural and artificially modified. But to Mrs. Li's indignation, there is no food marked with genetically modified products on the market. "Everyone is competing for green food, because it is natural and may be good for the body. Does the nonstandard genetically modified food mean unsafe? If it is not safe, the average person can't eat it. Government departments are responsible for us! " Mrs. Li is indignant.
As a humanist, Dr. Zhou expressed great concern about the living environment of human beings. He told reporters that many things are accepted by people at first in the face of new technologies, but their potential harm may often be reflected several years later, and then the impact may be out of control. What's more, there is no exact statement about the safety of genetically modified organisms all over the world. How can people eat without knowing it?
Guangzhou finds out imported genetically modified food.
Internationally, scientists have made substantial progress in the research of genetic improvement of many crops and put them into commercial application. So far, this technology has been implemented on many crops closely related to people's lives, such as soybeans, potatoes, corn, tomatoes, sweet peppers, rape and wheat. In other words, the food produced by the above crops contains genetically modified ingredients more or less.
The data show that from October to September in 2002, China imported 4.58 million tons of soybeans, mainly relying on the United States, Argentina and Brazil, accounting for 465.438+0%, 36% and 23% of the total imports respectively. 70% of soybeans in the United States are genetically modified soybeans, and 90% of soybeans in Argentina are genetically modified soybeans (only the Brazilian government prohibits the sowing of genetically modified soybeans). It can be inferred that about 80% of imported soybeans in China are genetically modified soybeans. These soybeans are mainly used to extract oil (edible oil).
The reporter learned from Guangzhou Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau that last year, when the bureau conducted sampling tests on soybeans imported from the United States, it detected genetically modified ingredients many times, but the specific quantity was confidential and the flow direction could not be disclosed. These genetically modified soybeans are processed into various products and sold in Guangdong production enterprises.
According to Dr. Qin Wen, the food laboratory in charge of genetically modified detection, Guangzhou Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau has advanced detection equipment for genetically modified products, and 0. 1% of genetically modified ingredients in raw materials can be detected by gene detection and protein detection.
The safety of genetically modified food is unknown.
Since genetically modified food has penetrated into people's lives, is it harmful to human body? How can we distinguish genetically modified foods?
To answer these questions, we first need to understand the safety of genetically modified foods. Dr. Qin Wen said that until today, whether genetically modified foods will cause "potential harm" to human health is still a huge controversial suspense. Because of this, many manufacturers who use genetically modified organisms as raw materials are reluctant to disclose that they produce genetically modified foods.
Genetically modified foods are not labeled.
In fact, for the production and sale of genetically modified foods, China formulated quite strict legal norms as early as two years ago. The reporter got a thick "Compilation of Regulations on Safety Management of Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms" from the Guangdong Provincial Department of Agriculture. This material contains many regulations on the safety management and label management of genetically modified organisms promulgated and implemented since 200 1. According to the regulations of the Ministry of Agriculture, from March 20th last year, all agricultural genetically modified organisms listed in the label management catalogue and used for sale shall be labeled when they are imported and sold. At the same time, the products processed with agricultural genetically modified organisms should also be marked with "genetically modified products (finished products)" or "processed raw materials are genetically modified products". Even if the final product no longer contains or can't detect genetically modified ingredients, it should be marked "This product has been genetically modified ××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××
Since the regulations have been issued, why can't we see the labeled genetically modified food on the market until today? A person in charge of the Science and Education Department of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Agriculture told the reporter that there are no genetically modified foods with labels in the markets of various cities in Guangdong. According to the regulations, the import and export enterprises are responsible for the identification of agricultural genetically modified organisms, which are declared to the administrative department of agriculture by the enterprises and identified by themselves after examination and approval. If the enterprise does not actively apply for labeling, all agricultural genetically modified organisms will be in an unlabeled state. The person in charge said that because the testing organization has not been approved, it is impossible to test genetically modified foods on the market.
Agricultural products applying transgenic technology.
soybean
potato
corn
tomato
sweet pepper
rapeseed
wheat
The first batch of agricultural genetically modified organisms with label management in China
Soybean seeds, soybean powder, soybean oil and soybean meal.
Corn seeds, corn, corn oil and corn flour.
Rapeseed rapeseed rapeseed meal
cottonseed
Fresh tomato sauce with tomato seeds
interconnection
What is genetically modified food?
Genetically modified food (GMFOOD) refers to food, food raw materials and food additives made or produced by scientists using biotechnology to change the genes of animals, plants and microorganisms in the laboratory. According to one or some characteristics, modifying genetic factors by mutation, implantation of heterologous genes or changing gene expression can make animals, plants or microorganisms have or enhance this characteristic, which can reduce production costs and improve the value of food or food raw materials.
According to their functions, transgenic plants can be roughly divided into yield-increasing type, controlled ripening type, high nutrition type, health care type and processing type.
Labels of genetically modified foods in the world
Europe is the first region to adopt the labeling system for genetically modified foods. 1997, the European union issued the new food directive, requiring member States to supervise food sales (especially for all kinds of genetically modified or genetically modified foods) and implement a labeling system.
2001165438+1On October 28th, EU 15 countries formulated new regulations on genetically modified food. According to the new regulations, all crops or foods containing more than 0.9% genetically modified DNA or protein must be labeled with the word "genetically modified" when they are sold in the market.
Mexico and Brazil in Latin America passed labeling laws in 2000 because they were nervous about "genetically modified corn and soybean seeds in the United States". In 200 1 year, Japan, South Korea, Philippines, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka and New Zealand in the Asia-Pacific region also promulgated their own labeling laws and regulations.