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Genetically Modified Foods: Labelling and Safety
What is Genetically Modified (GM) food?
GM food is a food or ingredient that is produced from a genetically modified organism and is different from its conventional counterpart.
Genetic modification (GM) or genetic engineering (GE), is a process for altering specific genes of a living organism to change its characteristics.
Is there GM food in New Zealand?
Currently in New Zealand:
o No GM crops are grown commercially.
o No GM fruit, vegetables or meat are sold.
o Processed foods can contain GM ingredients but must be labelled accordingly.
What GM food can be sold in New Zealand?
GM ingredients can only be sold in New Zealand if Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) has assessed them for safety and they have been approved by the FSANZ Board and cleared by all Australian and New Zealand ministers responsible for food.
GM ingredients that are approved are derived from GM crops such as corn, canola, soybean and sugarbeet. Foods containing approved GM ingredients must then be labelled accordingly.
How do people know if what they are buying contains GM material?
Since 7 December 2002, accurate labelling is required for foods containing GM DNA or protein, or having altered characteristics (e.g., soybeans with high oleic acid content).
What does a label look like?
Where a food has to be labelled as GM, the information will usually be in the ingredients list. For example a label for bread containing a GM ingredient could look like this:
Ingredients: wheat flour, yeast, soy flour (genetically modified), water, vegetable oil, sugar, salt, emulsifiers (471, 472E), preservative (282), enzyme (amylase).
If you want to find out more about a product, you can contact the manufacturer directly, often through a toll-free number on the label.
What about 'GM-Free' labelling?
Negative content labelling such as 'GM-free' labelling is not addressed as part of the labelling standard.
What foods must be labelled?
The labelling requirement covers all packaged and bulk foods. The law says:
- Food that contains genetically modified DNA or protein must be labelled. This includes any food, food ingredient, food additive, food-processing aid or flavouring that contains modified DNA or protein. Flavourings that make up less than 0.1% of a food are exempt from this requirement.
- Food that has altered characteristics as a result of genetic modification must be labelled, even if no GM material is present in the finished product. For example, if soyabeans are genetically modified to produce oil that is higher in oleic acid, that oil must be labelled.
Does this cover all GM ingredients all the time?
If an ingredient unintentionally contains GM material that is less than 1% of that ingredient then it does not need to be labelled. Food businesses are required to take all reasonable steps to avoid this happening. Flavourings that make up less than 0.1% of a food are also exempt from this requirement.
Why do we allow a tolerance before labelling is required?
There is an allowance for unintentional presence of GM content up to 1% before a ingredient must be labelled. This recognises that, even with the best of intentions, occasionally some cross-contamination of different foods is possible. For example, intermixing may arise from use of the same transport containers or vehicles for GM and non-GM foods or ingredients.
Does GM labelling apply to takeaways and food prepared in restaurants?
The GM labelling requirement applies to all packaged and bulk foods, but does not apply to food prepared in restaurants, cafes and takeaways. This is the same as most other food labelling requirements. If concerned, you can ask whether it contains any GM ingredients before you choose to buy it.
How do we assess GM foods as safe?
No GM food may be sold in New Zealand unless it has been assessed for safety by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), and then cleared by a council of New Zealand and Australian ministers. The FSANZ process for assessing the safety of GM foods is designed to be open to everyone and is consistent with international guidelines and best practice.
Those seeking approval for a new GM food must supply FSANZ with a large amount of scientific information, which must have been generated according to international standards of good laboratory practice in independently audited laboratories. FSANZ gathers extra information from many sources, including peer-reviewed scientific literature, general technical information, independent scientists, regulatory agencies, international bodies and the community.
Assessing food safety is a difficult business. It is simply not possible to guarantee that any food - including GM food - is absolutely safe for all people. There is always some risk from bacteria, toxins and allergens.
Before it will recommend approval of a GM food, FSANZ must be satisfied that the food does not have any new toxins or allergens and is not likely to pose any new health risks when compared with its conventional counterpart.
Those GM foods that have been approved are considered to be as safe as their non-GM counterparts.
New Zealand Food Safety Authority
68-86 Jervois Quay
PO Box 2835
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND
Phone: +64 4 894 2500
Fax: +64 4 894 2501
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