For my last post I have chosen to talk about a very controversial sector in Food Safety, Genetically Modified Food. The FDA regulates the safety of food for humans and animals, including foods produced from genetically engineered (GE) plants. (FDA) Foods from GE plants must meet the same food safety requirements as foods derived from traditionally bred plants. (FDA) A question may be how does the FDA regulate the genetically modified foods? The existing FDA safety requirements impose a clear legal duty on everyone in the farm to table continuum to market safe foods to consumers, regardless of the process by which such foods are created. It is unlawful to produce, process, store, ship or sell to consumers unsafe foods.(FDA)
In the Federal Register of May 29, 1992 (57 FR 22984), FDA published its "Statement of Policy: Foods Derived from New Plant Varieties" (the 1992 policy). (FDA) The 1992 policy clarified the agency's interpretation of the application of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to human foods and animal feeds derived from new plant varieties and provided guidance to industry on scientific and regulatory issues related to these foods. (FDA) The 1992 policy applied to all foods derived from all new plant varieties, including varieties that are developed using recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid (rDNA) technology. (FDA) This site refers to foods derived from plant varieties that are developed using rDNA technology as "bio-engineered foods." (FDA)
In the 1992 policy, FDA recommended that developers consult with FDA about bio-engineered foods under development; since issuance of the 1992 policy, developers have routinely done so. (FDA) In June 1996, FDA provided additional guidance to industry on procedures for these consultations (the consultation procedures). (FDA) These procedures describe a process in which a developer who intends to commercialize a bio-engineered food meets with the agency to identify and discuss relevant safety, nutritional, or other regulatory issues regarding the bio-engineered food and then submits to FDA a summary of its scientific and regulatory assessment of the food; FDA evaluates the submission and responds to the developer by letter. (FDA)
In the Federal Register of January 18, 2001 (the pre-market notification proposal; 66 FR 4706), FDA issued a proposed rule that would require that developers submit a scientific and regulatory assessment of the bio engineered food 120 days before the bio-engineered food is marketed. (FDA) In the pre-market notification proposal, FDA recommends that developers continue the practice of consulting with the agency before submitting the required pre-market notice.
Most bio-engineered plants are considered "regulated articles" under regulations of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). (FDA) At some stage of research and development of a regulated article that is intended for use as a food crop, a developer requests from APHIS a determination of the article's regulatory status. (FDA)
The safe use of pesticidal substances is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (FDA) Thus, a bio-engineered food that is the subject of a consultation with FDA may contain an introduced pesticidal substance also known as a plant-incorporated protectant (PIP) that is subject to review by EPA. (FDA)
What are we willing to subject ourselves to? Is there any benefits to Genetically Modified Foods? In many ways GM foods enable the population of the planet to grow and reap the benefits but is there a cost? Without Genetically Modified Food sources, would we have enough food to feed the population? There is two sides to every story and we need to review and research about Food Safety from secure, reliable sources to make our own choices A few sites that could be used in any research would be articles from the FDA and the USDA.
Reference
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (n.d.). Retrieved March 01, 2016, from http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodScienceResearch/GEPlants/
