There is no definitive conclusion on the safety of genetically modified foods
Regarding what is genetically modified, one argument is that transgenes are a kind of technology that breaks the limits of species and are very different from traditional crossbreeding methods. Transgenic technology uses this technique to separate a gene from organisms and implant it into another organism. A completely different organism.
Whether domestically or internationally, there is no definitive conclusion about the safety of genetically modified foods. In March of this year, the head of the Agriculture GMO Safety Management Office of the Ministry of Agriculture replied to the question of promoting research and application of genetically modified technology. “The Ministry of Agriculture attaches great importance to the safety management of agricultural genetically modified organisms to ensure that products are identified, traceable and controllable.â€
It is still from the above-mentioned “Answer to reporters†that up to now, after being reviewed by the Agriculture Genetically Modified Organism Safety Committee, it has successively approved import safety certificates for the four crops of genetically modified cotton, soybeans, corn, and rapeseed. Its use is limited to processing raw materials. The Ministry of Agriculture has so far not approved the import of any kind of genetically modified food crop seeds into China.
Reporter Liu Leping
The topic of genetically modified foods that had already been silent was recently reported by the International Environmental Protection Organization Greenpeace. It has become a new round of topics for people. The organization's "Supermarket Ranking for 2010" announced on the 27th shows that Wal-Mart, the world's largest supermarket chain, has promised Chinese consumers to reject genetically modified food for the first time.
What will Wal-Mart's promise affect the retail industry? What is the current situation of sales of genetically modified food at Hangzhou Supermarket? Yesterday, the reporter conducted an interview.
Store Survey
Genetically modified foods must be displayed centrally
“At present, Tesco supermarkets in Hangzhou basically do not have GM foods sold. There are GM foods in supermarkets that are mainly in the category of oil and rice, and there are very few products.†said Tao Tao, senior manager of East China, Tesco’s Corporate Affairs Department. At times, the media also reported on genetically modified controversy, which has caused consumers questionable and unacceptable influences. Therefore, these oils or rice products that may contain genetically modified ingredients will be unmarketable.
Fu Tao also told reporters that because of this, the big manufacturers cooperating with Tesco have not entered foods containing genetically modified ingredients into Tesco supermarkets. "If there is still this kind of commodity to be sold in the supermarket, it must belong to the previous stock, and the quantity is definitely very small."
According to reporters in the edible oil monopoly area on the first floor of the Lianchun store in Lianhua Supermarket, the most common foods containing genetically modified ingredients are edible oils. Looking at the packaging of these edible oils, it is generally indicated that “the processed raw materials of this product contain genetically modified soybeans†or “this product is processed from non-genetically modified soybeansâ€. At the price, non-GM soybean oil is generally about 10% more expensive than genetically modified soybean. The salesperson confirmed to the reporter that the GM soybean oil is much better than the non-GM crop. "After all, the price is cheaper."
A related person in charge of China Resources Vanguard Supermarket expressed the same opinion in an interview with reporters. According to its introduction, the supermarket stipulates that all genetically modified foods must be displayed in the same area, and there are reminders in the sales area to tell consumers to purchase genetically modified foods.