Search
Search results 1-10 of 2358
General information about GM foods
General information about GM foods People have been manipulating the genetic make-up of plants and animals for countless generations. This is referred to as traditional cross breeding and involves selecting plants and animals with the most desirable characteristics (e.g. disease resistance, high yield, good meat quality) for breeding the next generation. Today's techniques use new ways of identifying particular characteristics and transferring them between living organisms. For example, it is now possible to make a copy of a particular gene from the cells of a plant, animal or microbe, and insert the copy into the cells of another organism to give a desired characteristic. Foods derived from genetically modified organisms are called 'GM foods'. All of the GM foods approved so far are from GM…
Published 28 August 2020
Genetically modified (GM) food labelling
Genetically modified (GM) food labelling GM food labelling helps consumers make an informed choice about the food they buy. It allows them to identify a GM food or a product that has GM ingredients. GM food labelling is not about safety. All GM foods and ingredients must undergo a safety assessment and be approved before they can be sold in Australia and New Zealand. How GM foods are labelled was decided by the ministers responsible for food regulation in 2001. Ministers reconfirmed these labelling provisions following an…
Published 10 November 2022
Feeding studies and GM corn MON863
Feeding studies and GM corn MON863 (Last updated July 2012) Genetically modified (GM) corn line MON863 was approved for food use in Australia and New Zealand in December 2003 and April 2004 respectively. MON863 corn contains a gene that makes the plants tolerant to certain common insect pests, including corn rootworm. This variety of corn is suitable for growing in the northern hemisphere, in countries like the United States, where these pests cause damage to crops. Approval in Australia and New Zealand is necessary before any foods containing MON863 corn as an ingredient can be imported. Read the final assessment report for MON863 In 2004, the developer (Monsanto) released an animal feeding study…
Published 16 January 2014
Detailed comment on Carman et al (2013): study design and conduct
Detailed comment on Carman et al (2013): study design and conduct
- Given the authors claim that effects of the GM diet include gastroenteric effects and effects on the female reproductive system, it is surprising that the mycotoxin assays did not include trichothecenes, which could cause gastroenteric inflammation, and zearalenone, which has oestrogenic effects. Trichothecenes and zearalenone are common contaminants in grain-based animal feeds in the Midwest of the United States.
- There is a lack of information on the composition of the control (non-GM) and GM diets. This does not allow the impact of other dietary factors, unrelated to the GM trait, to be excluded.
-
Only a single GM diet was used which precludes the possibility of determining if a dose-response…
Published 4 July 2013
Education materials on GM foods and NBTs
Education materials on GM foods and NBTs (October 2021) We have developed a series of fact sheets and videos on genetically modified (GM) foods and new breeding techniques (NBTs). Fact sheets
Canola line genetically modified to produce long chain fatty acids
Canola line genetically modified to produce long chain fatty acids Food Standards Australia New Zealand has assessed an application to permit food from a canola line that has been genetically modified to produce the omega 3 long chain fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the seeds. DHA, which is mainly obtained from eating seafood and marine oils, plays a role in physiological functions including regulating inflammation and immune function, and cardiovascular function. The call for submissions on FSANZ's assessment closed on 26 October 2017. Read the assessment documents What products can the canola oil/seed be used in? The applicant has stated that this canola line could provide an alternative…
Published 28 April 2022
Herbicides in GM foods
Herbicides in GM foods (August 2019) Farmers use herbicides to reduce weeds in their crops. Herbicides, together with herbicide tolerant crops, allow farmers to selectively destroy weeds without damaging the main crop. Genes for herbicide tolerance can be introduced into crops using either conventional plant breeding or gene technology. Conventionally bred herbicide-tolerant crops are grown in both Australia and New Zealand, and genetically modified (GM) herbicide-tolerant crops are also grown in Australia. No GM crops are currently grown commercially in New Zealand. Examples of conventional (non-GM) herbicide tolerant crops include triazine-tolerant and imidazolinone-tolerant canola and imidazolinone-tolerant wheat. Herbicide-tolerant GM cotton and canola, licensed for growing in Australia…
Published 16 March 2021
New plant breeding techniques workshops
New plant breeding techniques workshops (June 2014) Foods produced from plants developed using new plant breeding techniques are close to commercialisation and food regulators around the world, including FSANZ, must decide whether they are subject to regulation as genetically modified (GM) foods. To enhance our understanding of the techniques and the food products that might come from them, FSANZ held technical workshops in 2012 and 2013 and invited scientific experts to participate. Scientific views were also sought on whether foods derived from plants developed using the new techniques should be regarded as GM food, or whether they are more like conventional food. FSANZ may have regard to the scientific conclusions from these workshops when considering applications to…
Published 20 June 2014
Response to a feeding study in goats by Tudisco et al
Response to a feeding study in goats by Tudisco et al (November 2015) Tudisco et al published a paper in Small Ruminant Research on a feeding study in goats using GM soy. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of GM feeding on colostrum quality in the goats (protein and fat composition; IgG concentration) and on kids fed milk from the goats. The authors also analysed for the presence of feed DNA fragments in the colostrum. Four groups of goats were fed diets containing soybean meal (at 13% or 20% dry matter) obtained from either conventional or GM soybean (glyphosate tolerant soybean line MON 40-3-2) for 60 days before kidding. Ten male kids were randomly selected from twin deliveries in each group. Immediately after kidding, kids were housed…
Published 26 November 2015
Response to a feeding study in rats by Zdziarski et al [1]
Response to a feeding study in rats by Zdziarski et al [1] (August 2018) Zdziarski et al published a paper in Food and Nutrition sciences on a 26 week feeding study in rats using GM corn. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of ingesting a triple-stacked GM corn variety (NK603 X MON810 X MON863) on the digestive tract of rats, specifically the stomach mucosa. Two groups of 10 male Sprague Dawley rats were fed a diet containing either 60% GM corn (sourced from the United States) or 60% non-GM corn (sourced from Australia) for 26 weeks. Rats were monitored daily and weighed weekly including at termination. The stomach was removed immediately post-mortem and weighed then samples removed and prepared for light microscopy, immunohistochemistry and electron…
Published 30 August 2018