Genetically modified foods enter public life experts say or threaten food security

Corn oil, olive oil, soybean oil, rapeseed oil ... In the face of a row of cooking oil on the supermarket shelves, which oil would you choose? Is it a sign or a crop?

The newly revised "Regulations on the Administration of Food Labeling," implemented from June 1 this year, requires genetically modified foods or legal genetically modified raw materials to be marked on the labels in Chinese. Unconsciously, genetically modified foods have come quietly. Someone shouted that "the devil" came, and others were optimistic.

What is genetically modified food? What is the controversy surrounding it? How does the public see it?

â–  Citizen response

Unfamiliar with genetically modified foods

The reporter went to a supermarket in Kunming. In the oil-and-oil district on the second floor, the reporter carefully read the labeling instructions for several brands of edible oil. He found that many kinds of oil were marked in the label column to use genetically modified raw materials, and some oils were still prominent in the label. Write “Non-GMO Press” and consider this a selling point. Ms. Zhang, the saleswoman, was busy with the goods. She said that many people who buy oil do not know that they have genetically modified edible oil. When buying, they rarely ask. Most people mainly look for prices.

Of the six citizens interviewed by the reporter, only one knew what was genetically modified food.

The expression is very different

"What is genetically modified food?"

A middle-aged man came with a shopping cart. "Sir, what do you value when you buy oil?" the reporter asked.

"Cheap." He pointed to the oil on the shopping cart.

“Then do you know that some oils are pressed with genetically modified raw materials?”

He was a bit surprised and touched his neck and asked, "What is genetically modified food? I bought oil!"

Facial expression two

"Genetical, do not eat"

"Mom, isn't enough oil at home? We stroll around in the supermarket." Ms. Hu, 27, had just become a mother and was now full-time with children at home.

“The genetically modified ones are not eaten.” She said, “Eat badly.” Ms. Hu said that when she went to buy oil, the salesperson would tell her which genetic oils and what were not genetically modified oils. Sometimes she read the labeling instructions. .

In the end, she took a bottle of Fulimen rapeseed oil on the shelf. The reporter looked at the label on the shelf where she took the oil. The label clearly did not indicate whether it was a GM crop or not. However, in the raw material column, it reads: The raw materials for processing soybean oil and rapeseed oil are GM crops.

Three calm expressions

"High school has learned about genetic modification"

"The GM is definitely not good," said Wu Libing in his 20s. "It's still natural to eat." Wu Libing studied automation majors at university and worked as a building supervisor after work.

The reporter rejoiced and finally found a citizen who knew the genetically modified: "Do you know what genetically modified food is?"

He said that genetically controlled traits, the transgene is the cutting of some gene fragments, and then transferred to the genes of other species ... According to him, in the high school biology class to learn about genetically modified food knowledge.

â–  Environmental organizations

"Guide to avoiding genetically modified foods" helps citizens identify "transgenic"

When GM foods quietly entered the public’s life, Greenpeace, an international NGO, launched a “Guide to Avoiding Genetically Modified Foods” every year since 2004 to help citizens “understand consumption”. In this year's "Guide", there are 10 categories of infant foods, dairy products, rice, fruit drinks, and snack foods, among which there are many well-known domestic brands.

A few days ago, the reporter interviewed Wang Weikang, director of the Greenpeace Food and Agriculture Project, by e-mail.