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I'd like to propose a rule for GM food:
DON'T EAT IT!!!
GM food: what are the rules?
The Government's chief scientific adviser, Professor Sir John Beddington, said genetically-modified crops could help prevent a future global hunger crisis. So what are the rules on GM in the UK?
GM food released for sale in the UK has to be at least as nutritious as non-GM food, as safe as non-GM food and to create no additional risk to the consumer Photo: ALAMY
What is GM food?
It is any food which has had genes from another creature inserted into its DNA, or any food which has had its own DNA altered.
What is grown in the UK?
There are hundreds of experimental GM fields in the UK but many farmers try to keep theirs secret for fear of protesters vandalising their valuable crops. Potatoes, oilseed rape, beet and maize are among the crops grown.
Can it be sold in the UK?
In June 2000, it was decided that GM foods in theory were "as safe as their non-GM counterparts and posed no additional risk to the consumer". However, each foodstuff, whether animal or human, is individually assessed before it can be sold.
As yet, no animal or human genes, or GM animals, have been approved for use in GM food but plants are sold which have GM DNA.
Who makes the decision?
There are two major hurdles to get over before a GM food can be sold in the UK. Firstly, the food must be approved for sale by the European Food Safety Authority. Secondly, the Food Standards Agency - the UK's decision-making body - then has to do the same. The FSA is advised by two bodies: the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes, for human food; and the Advisory Committee on Animal Feedingstuffs, for animal food.
What are the criteria?
GM food released for sale in the UK has to be at least as nutritious as non-GM food, as safe as non-GM food and to create no additional risk to the consumer.
How is it labelled?
The rules are slightly contradictory. According to the FSA, any intentional use of GM ingredients at any level must be labelled but there is no need to label small amounts (below 0.9%) of approved GM ingredients that are accidentally present in a food. Products such as flour, oils and syrups have to be labelled as GM if they are from a GM source but products such as meat, milk and eggs from animals which have been fed on GM animal feed don't need labelling.
As yet, no animal or human genes, or GM animals, have been approved for use in GM food but plants are sold which have GM DNA.
Who makes the decision?
There are two major hurdles to get over before a GM food can be sold in the UK. Firstly, the food must be approved for sale by the European Food Safety Authority. Secondly, the Food Standards Agency - the UK's decision-making body - then has to do the same. The FSA is advised by two bodies: the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes, for human food; and the Advisory Committee on Animal Feedingstuffs, for animal food.
What are the criteria?
GM food released for sale in the UK has to be at least as nutritious as non-GM food, as safe as non-GM food and to create no additional risk to the consumer.
How is it labelled?
The rules are slightly contradictory. According to the FSA, any intentional use of GM ingredients at any level must be labelled but there is no need to label small amounts (below 0.9%) of approved GM ingredients that are accidentally present in a food. Products such as flour, oils and syrups have to be labelled as GM if they are from a GM source but products such as meat, milk and eggs from animals which have been fed on GM animal feed don't need labelling.
