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EMB Workshop for GM Food, Food Labeling & Food Additives The Chinese University of Hong Kong Lai K. Leung, PhD Food & Nutritional Sciences Programme ( Biochemistry Department) MSc Programme in Nutrition, Food Science and Technology Diploma/Certificate in Food & Nutritional Sciences 19/11/05 GM Food • Definition: – A food product containing some quantity of any genetically modified organism (GMO) as an ingredient. 19/11/05 GM Food • Common GM Food in the market: – – – – Rice Soybean Corn Tomato • Purpose: – Securing food supply (fastgrowing; resistant to temp/virus/insecticide) – Economic factor – Nutrient enrichment 19/11/05 GM Food • Technique: VECTOR 19/11/05 GM Food • History: – 1st GMF in the US market – tomato produced by Calgene in 1994; flavor not desirable, pulled out in 1997. – Monsanto & USDA in 1998 patent on a technique for genetic seed sterilization (selfdestruction of offspring); withdrawal due to public opposition. 19/11/05 GM Food • Hong Kong: – – – – No farmers using GM technique. Research performed at the Univ. level. No specific regulation for GM food sale. Public consultation on GM food labeling in 2001. – An impact assessment conducted in 2002. – 2003, difficulties were identified in mandatory GM food labeling. – The Govm’t’s initiative: only safe GM food are sold. 19/11/05 GM Food • Testing system: Polymerase Chain Reaction 19/11/05 GM Food • Issues: – Benefits (↑productivity & quality; ↓cost) – Potential hazards (food allergy; jeopardized flora & fauna biodiversity; delayed response for long term consumption) – Consumers’ right? 19/11/05 Food Labeling (FL) • FL provides the info for calculating the nutritional values. It consists of percentages of the Daily Values. • Assist individuals to pursue a healthy dietary pattern. • Chronic disease prevention and gov’t budget implication. 19/11/05 Food Labeling (FL) • The Daily Values: – Developed by FDA on FL for simplifying the calculation of intake. – The % based on a 2000-kcalorie and/or 2500kcalorie diet. – 2000 kcalorie diet: about right for moderately active women, teenage girls, and inactive men. – 2500 kcalorie diet: about right for men, teenage boys, and active women. 19/11/05 Food Labeling (FL) • Nutrient claims: – Claims must be coherent physiologically. – e.g. “cholesterol-free” claim has to satisfy <2 mg of chol and also ≤ 2 g of saturated fat per serving. • Health Claims – Related to a disease or health condition (most people/specific population are at risk). – Supported by scientific evidence. 19/11/05 ABC News • Recent food labeling issues in the US: – ABC News Watchdog Group Calls Out Food Products Mislabeled 'Healthy'.htm 19/11/05 Food Additives • ‘Any substance that affects the characteristics of any food.’ – Coloring agents – Sweeteners – MSG, etc. • Food Toxicology 19/11/05 Food Toxicity • Definition: – “the capacity of a substance to cause adverse health effects on a living organism.” – Paracelsus commented in the 15th century, “All substances are poisons; there is none which is not a poison. The right dose differentiates a poison and a remedy.” 19/11/05 Food Additives • Purpose: – Product consistency, texture, etc. – Nutrition value – Storage – Taste, attractiveness. 19/11/05 • For sweetness without the taking in that much calories as sugar. US FDA approved sweeteners 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 19/11/05 Aspartame Saccharin Sugar alcohols Acesulfame-K sucralose Acesulfame-K 19/11/05 “... acetoacetamide, a breakdown product, has been shown to affect the thyroid in rats, rabbits, and dogs. Administration of 1% and 5% acetoacetamide in the diet for three months caused benign thyroid tumors in rats. The rapid appearance of tumors raises serious questions about the chemical carcinogenic potency." Saccharin • It causes bladder cancer in rats, but the dosage is too high (equivalent to hundreds of cans of diet drinks per day). 19/11/05 Cyclamate • Not approved yet. It causes bladder cancer in rats. 19/11/05 Issues to be addressed Projects can be focused on: • Environmental impact. • How to implement? • What are the potential difficulties? • Identify the ‘losers’ of any of these new policies. • Are we overly cautious? • What are the new opportunities? 19/11/05 My recommendation • Grade the project as essays with science elements. • Not scientific papers. 19/11/05