Inflaming the debate over genetically modified: genetically modified foods, have you eaten?

With the development of transgenic technology and the promotion of transgenic crops, genetically modified agricultural products have gradually penetrated into people's lives. Statistics from the International Organization for the Application of Agricultural Biotechnology Applications indicate that 28 countries have planted genetically modified crops. About 81% of the world's soybeans, 35% of corn, and 30% of rape are genetically modified products.

Up to now, China has approved the issuance of seven kinds of genetically modified plant biosafety certificates for genetically modified plants, namely the storage-resistant tomatoes and insect-resistant cotton safety certificates issued in 1997. In 1999, the security certificates for changing color petunias and disease-resistant peppers were issued. The annual safety certificate for transgenic disease-resistant papaya was issued, and the transgenic maize and transgenic phytase corn safety certificates issued in 2009 were issued.

According to Peng Yufa, deputy chairman of the Committee on Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms and a researcher at the Institute of Plant Protection of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, currently the country's genetically modified crops are mainly genetically modified cotton, and there is also a small amount of genetically modified papaya.

What are the GM varieties of imported agricultural products? China has successively approved import safety certificates for the four crops of genetically modified cotton, genetically modified soybeans, genetically modified corn, and genetically modified rapeseed. Except for the approval of the cultivation of genetically modified cotton, the use of imported genetically modified soybeans, genetically modified corn, and genetically modified rapeseeds is limited to the processing of raw materials.

Wang Xiaoyu, deputy secretary-general of the Heilongjiang Soybean Association, told reporters that more than half of domestic consumption of oil and fat is soybean oil, and 90% of soybean oil is genetically modified soybean.

Genetically modified foods are not safe

Since the commercialization of genetically modified crops in 1996, genetic modification has been the most controversial technology in the history of agriculture. Proponents believe that GM technology can alleviate resource constraints, protect the ecological environment, and improve product quality. Opponents challenge the food safety, ecological security, and staple food security. Is GM technology a "Pandora Box" or a future of agriculture? Can technical risks be effectively prevented? All kinds of disputes are difficult for the public to discern.

According to biologist Lin Min and other biologists of the Ministry of Agriculture’s Genetically Modified Organisms Committee, transgenic technology is the core of modern biotechnology, broadening the sources of available genes, and achieving a predictable, accurate, controllable and efficient breeding effort. Saving manpower, material resources and time is a technological revolution in biological breeding.

Nobel Laureate Richard Roberts said: “In agriculture, in this deteriorating environment, this technology allows us to use less water or pesticides. There is no evidence that GM foods are harmful to human health. ."

However, some experts also said that the potential threats posed by GM crops to the ecological environment should be vigilant. Wang Fang, a doctor of biotechnology and a professor at Tianjin University of Science and Technology, said that insect-resistant crops may disrupt the food chain, and insects may develop resistance to toxic proteins during the evolution process, causing the emergence of so-called “super pests”.

“The United States Environmental Protection Agency stipulates that a special planted ordinary crop must be kept around the fields where insect-resistant GM crops are planted, so that pests have a refuge,” said Wang Fang.

Regarding the safety of genetically modified foods, Zhu Xi, a researcher at the Institute of Genetic Development of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, believes that there is no scientific basis for eating genetically modified foods or genetically modified foods that may change human genetic properties. In the long run, genetically modified foods, like conventionally grown foods, have not produced new and unexpected problems that are different from other foods.

In the 2007 World Health Organization's “20 Questions on Genetically Modified Foods,” the document stated cautiously: “The GM foods currently available on the international market have passed risk assessment and may not pose a risk to human health. ”

Wang Junping, a researcher at the Ministry of Education's key laboratory for food nutrition and safety and a professor at Tianjin University of Science and Technology, believes that the safety of chemical targets is well-tested, such as melamine, and the evaluation of the safety of genetically modified foods is very complicated.

Consumers should have the right to know about genetically modified foods

The debate over the safety of genetically modified organisms may be difficult to distinguish between winners and losers in the short term. Some experts said that people should be fully assured of the right to know about the consumption of genetically modified foods, put the problems out, and give the people the right to choose.

"Beyond the controversy over the safety of genetically modified foods, people have the right to know exactly what foods are eaten in the stomach. They should fully safeguard people's right to know and choose food." Agricultural Policy Expert, Zhou Enlai Government School of Management, Nankai University Doctoral supervisor Cheng Tongshun said.

“Any commodity must fully respect the consumer’s right to information and the true information of the product must be provided to consumers.” Qiu Baochang, an expert advisor and attorney of the China Consumers Association, said that consumers’ right to know and choice is legally granted to consumers. Rights, at the same time, are also obligations of the operator.

Dr. Zhang Xiang of Nankai University believes that it is of utmost importance to standardize and improve the labeling system of genetically modified foods. The promotion and sales of genetically modified foods should be based on full disclosure of information and respect for the right of consumers to choose.

"As the related debate continues, our country should further standardize and improve logo management." Wang Junping said that it should learn from developed countries' management of genetically modified foods.

There is very little of a technology like GM, which makes opposing parties' views so contradictory: contradictory experimental evidence, expression of extreme opposite interests, and unreliable research conclusions that make consumers feel at a loss. Recently, some experts have published arguments such as "Safer foods and non-genetically modified foods are as safe" as the GM disputes.

How to treat genetically modified foods, the attitude of the world is different, the scientific community also has great differences, perhaps this kind of dispute will continue for a long time. However, for consumers, what is more important than the dispute is the right to know and choose the right food for genetically modified foods.