(Jiang Gaoming)
Recently, an environmental protection organization discovered a potentially allergenic component, the insect-resistant Bt gene, in a beef and vegetable rice noodle sold by a multinational company to China. The protein can trigger immune system reactions in mice and is a potential allergen. In view of this, the environmental group asked the company to immediately stop selling the genetically modified food in China and make a commitment to Chinese consumers not to use genetically modified raw materials.
According to the "Administrative Measures on the Labeling of Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms" of the Ministry of Agriculture, currently only 17 genetically modified foods have been approved in China, and baby rice flour is not listed. Therefore, the use of genetically modified rice flour is not in conformity with Chinese laws and regulations. So far, I have not seen the multinational company's response to this incident. However, the author knows that the multinational company has promised not to use genetically modified raw materials in countries such as the European Union, Australia, Russia and Brazil, but has refused to make the same commitment to Chinese consumers. The author believes that they adopt different standards from developed countries and discriminate against Chinese consumers.
For more than a decade, the dispute over the safety of genetically modified foods has not stopped. In order to dump their products, GM food vendors often use concealed or unreported methods, or “hitch†sales with other non-genetically modified foods, or transfer labeling targets to “sell†their products to consumers who do not know the truth. More than 80% of soybean salad oil sold on the market is a genetically modified product, but businesses use this salad oil to make other foods such as soy milk, bean flour, biscuits, potato chips, and instant noodles. Some genetically modified foods have small logos that are not easily noticeable by the average person. There are also businesses that beautify genetically modified logos and give people a sense of what high-tech foods are. Genetically modified papayas, tomatoes, etc. are not labeled at all, leaving consumers with no way to know if they are genetically modified.
The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China stipulates that starting from September 1, 2008, all Chinese foods belonging to genetically modified foods or legal genetically modified raw materials should be marked in Chinese.
On the other hand, although genetically modified foods are increasing, most people still know little about them. In the taxi, the author asked a few drivers at random, most of whom were unclear about the word. Many people heard about it for the first time. The author feels that we must also strengthen the dissemination of knowledge in this area.
Although many experts claim that GM foods are safe and safe to eat, they are not sure what the consequences of long-term consumption of GM foods will be. The seller once promised the safety of tetraethyl lead as a shock absorber in gasoline. At that time, he vowed that it would not cause harm to the human body, but later proved that these commitments were totally deceptive. In the area of ​​food processing, Sudan Red was also hailed as a human invention when it was first listed, but it is now a crime to add Sudan Red to food.
GM is a high technology, but we must be cautious when we want to enter the food industry related to human life. In this regard, both the international community and the country have strict standards. Why is it not implemented thoroughly? The implementation of "double standards" has even increased people's distrust of their quality. Who can dare to pat on the chest and say that food is harmless to the human body? Does it have no effect on future generations?
The author believes that if the transnational company produced genetically modified foods and violated the relevant national regulations, it should be given a firm investigation; if it is in line with the provisions of genetically modified foods, it should clearly inform consumers that there should be a clear logo. Consumers have the right to choose foods that they consider safe. The adoption of "different standards" that is different from that in developed countries like this company is a discrimination against Chinese consumers.
(The author is a Principal Researcher of the Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences)