Title
Assessment of the safety of foods derived from genetically modified (GM) crops
Author
König, A.
Cockburn, A.
Crevel, R.W.R.
Debruyne, E.
Grafstroem, R.
Hammerling, U.
Kimber, I.
Knudsen, I.
Kuiper, H.A.
Peijnenburg, A.A.C.M.
Penninks, A.H.
Poulsen, M.
Schauzu, M.
Wal, J.M.
TNO Voeding Centraal Instituut voor Voedingsonderzoek TNO
Publication year
2004
Abstract
This paper provides guidance on how to assess the safety of foods derived from genetically modified crops (GM crops); it summarises conclusions and recommendations of Working Group 1 of the ENTRANSFOOD project. The paper provides an approach for adapting the test strategy to the characteristics of the modified crop and the introduced trait, and assessing potential unintended effects from the genetic modification. The proposed approach to safety assessment starts with the comparison of the new GM crop with a traditional counterpart that is generally accepted as safe based on a history of human food use (the concept of substantial equivalence). This case-focused approach ensures that foods derived from GM crops that have passed this extensive test-regime are as safe and nutritious as currently consumed plant-derived foods. The approach is suitable for current and future GM crops with more complex modifications. First, the paper reviews test methods developed for the risk assessment of chemicals, including food additives and pesticides, discussing which of these methods are suitable for the assessment of recombinant proteins and whole foods. Second, the paper presents a systematic approach to combine test methods for the safety assessment of foods derived from a specific GM crop. Third, the paper provides an overview on developments in this area that may prove of use in the safety assessment of GM crops, and recommendations for research priorities. It is concluded that the combination of existing test methods provides a sound test-regime to assess the safety of GM crops. Advances in our understanding of molecular biology, biochemistry, and nutrition may in future allow further improvement of test methods that will over time render the safety assessment of foods even more effective and informative. © 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Subject
Nutrition Safety
Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology
Allergy
Food
Genetic engineering
Genetic manipulation
Genetic modification
Molecular characterisation
Novel foods
Plant biotechnology
Plant metabolism
Recombinant proteins
Regulation
Risk analysis
Safety assessment
Toxicology
Transgenic crops
Agronomic trait
Analytic method
Conference paper
DNA sequence
DNA vector
Food analysis
Food safety
Gene insertion
Genetically modified crop
Geographic distribution
Human
Molecular biology
Nonhuman
Nutrition
Phenotype
Practice guideline
Risk assessment
Toxicity testing
Transgene
Animals
Consumer Product Safety
Food Analysis
Food Supply
Food, Genetically Modified
Genetic Engineering
Humans
International Cooperation
Plants, Genetically Modified
Risk Assessment
Safety
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:90a89a42-f93a-4452-b040-004eec8be02a
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2004.02.019
TNO identifier
237857
ISSN
0278-6915
Source
Food and Chemical Toxicology, 42 (7), 1047-1088
Document type
article