There is heated debate around genetically modified (GM) food. Fresh Living takes a closer look at the issues of scientific evidence and labelling...

There was a time, not long ago, when the very thought of genetic modification seemed like something out of the 1970s B-movie 'Attack of the Killer Tomatoes', where the tomatoes rose up against humanity. But now we belong to the generation that encountered Dolly, the sheep famous for being the world's first cloned animal in 1996. After the initial shock, people simply shrugged their shoulders and skipped to the next TV channel.

Genetic modification of food, though, continues to be hotly debated — some people support it and others fervently oppose it.

Organic and genetically modified

There is a growing move by consumers to choose organic and more natural foods. Supporters of GM farming say that it needn't be in conflict with the organic trend because it potentially eliminates the need for chemical pesticides and fertilisers. In most countries, however, produce labelled 'organic' may not be genetically modified.

Some of the fears associated with GM farming are that it might spawn a new breed of resistant 'superweeds' and 'superbugs', and that the built-in pesticide produced in GM crops may unintentionally harm the birds and animals that eat them.

From a human health point of view, there is concern that GM foods could contain as-yet undiscovered harmful toxins.

While there may be scientific support for both the 'for' and 'against' views, there appears to be a general consensus that further intensive testing is required before we know for sure what the real risks are, if any.

In SA, the GM controversy arose partly because the draft Consumer Protection Bill was altered to remove a clause requiring all foods containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to be labelled as such.

Only GM foods (food items that have had their DNA changed through genetic engineering) that were 'substantially different' from their non-GM counterparts had to be labelled.

Because most GM foods did not fall into this category, no labelling was required. That is, until September 2008, when the clause was reinserted into the final draft of the legislation. After a period of implementation, all GM foods in SA will now be labelled.

Are GM foods safe to eat?

By law, all foods on sale must be safe to eat. Since GM technology was first introduced, food safety has been an important concern. Countries have set up strict bio-safety structures to oversee the development of GM foods, and each food is assessed for human and environmental safety before being approved.

In SA, the GMO Act is in place to ensure the safe introduction of GM foods to the market. The SA Department of Agriculture has approved the planting of three GM crops — certain strains of maize, soybean and cotton — which were extensively tested before being released for consumer use.

For several years, importers of GMOs have had to obtain a special import permit under the Agricultural Pests Act. Food safety in general is governed by the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act.

There are no imported fresh GM vegetables or fruits currently on sale in SA, although some GM maize and soya imports have been approved for use in locally processed foods and animal feeds, and certain imported processed foods may contain GM ingredients.

Due to the lack of conclusive scientific evidence on the effects of GM farming, Fresh Living and Pick n Pay neither condemn nor support the practice. This article aims only to highlight the debate.

What Pick n Pay says

Pick n Pay believes that our customers have the right to make informed choices when purchasing all products, including our House Brands. "We are currently working with regulators, consumers and industry to develop labelling methods that accurately inform consumers of which foods contain GM ingredients," says Lara Barlow, National Technical Manager, Corporate Foods.