ABSTRACT
Abstract Developments in applying biotechnology to crops have generated strong ethical and social debates about its use. This study was aimed at reviewing epidemiological evidence regarding the consumption of genetically modified foods and the possible effects on human health, particularly certain insect-resistant crops in which isolated Bacillum thurigiensis Cry protein has been introduced. An in-depth review of databases was conducted for 2007-2019. Articles not referring to human health were excluded. In total, 1,350 were obtained and 118 were reviewed. As a result, it can be concluded that most studies have focused on chemical composition and in vitro or laboratory animal trials. Furthermore, the guiding principle of substantial equivalency, generally used today to evaluate potential health effects, should not replace rigorously evaluating products with nutritional, immunological, and toxicological trials. Lastly, this review demonstrates a lack of epidemiological evidence, and therefore, the safety of these foods cannot be conclusively determined based on evidence.
Resumen El desarrollo de la biotecnología aplicada a los cultivos ha generado fuertes debates éticos y sociales sobre su uso. El presente estudio tuvo por objetivo revisar las evidencias epidemiológicas existentes relacionando el consumo de alimentos genéticamente modificados, en particular aquellos provenientes de cultivos con resistencia a algunos insectos plagas en los que se han introducido proteínas Cry aisladas de Bacillum thurigiensis con probables daños o trastornos en la salud de las personas. Se realizó una revisión en profundidad en el periodo 2007 a 2019, en bases de datos. Se excluyeron aquellos artículos que no hacían referencia a salud humana. Se obtuvieron 1 350 y finalmente se revisaron 118. La revisión permitió concluir que la mayoría de los estudios existentes se centran en información respecto a la composición química y ensayos in vitro o en laboratorio con animales. Igualmente, que el principio rector de equivalencia sustancial hoy utilizado en forma generalizada para la evaluación de potenciales efectos en salud, no debería sustituir la necesidad de una evaluación rigurosa de los productos incluyendo ensayos nutricionales, inmunológicos y toxicológicos. Por último se comprueba también que la evidencia epidemiológica incluida es insuficiente por lo que lo que no es posible concluir a partir de ella, sobre la inocuidad de estos alimentos.
Subject(s)
Humans , Food, Genetically Modified , Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins , Organisms, Genetically Modified , Food SupplyABSTRACT
With genetically modified (GM) food circulating on the market, a rapid transgenic food screening method is needed to protect consumer rights. The on-site screening efficiency of GM food testing is low. We report rapid sample-to-answer detection of GM papayas with loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and a compact, portable, integrated microfluidic platform using microfluidic lab-on-a-disc (LOAD). GM samples were differentiated from non-GM papaya, based on the detection of a specific GM (P-35S (Cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter)) and non-GM DNA marker (papain) in 15â¯min. The detection limits for DNA and juice from papaya were 10â¯pg/µL and 0.02⯵L, respectively. Our LOAD platform is a simple and robust solution for GM screening, which is anticipated to be a foundation for on-site testing of transgenic food.
Subject(s)
Carica/genetics , Food Analysis/methods , Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques/methods , Plants, Genetically Modified/genetics , Food Analysis/instrumentation , Fruit and Vegetable Juices , Genetic Markers , Hong Kong , Lab-On-A-Chip Devices , Limit of Detection , Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques/instrumentation , Papain/genetics , Promoter Regions, Genetic , SmartphoneABSTRACT
In recent years, due to the increasing consciousness of food safety and human health, much progress has been made in developing rapid and nondestructive techniques for the evaluation of food hazards, food authentication, and traceability. Near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy and imaging techniques have gained wide acceptance in many fields because of their advantages over other analytical techniques. Following a brief introduction of NIR spectroscopy and imaging basics, this review mainly focuses on recent NIR spectroscopy and imaging applications for food safety evaluation, including (1) chemical hazards detection; (2) microbiological hazards detection; (3) physical hazards detection; (4) new technology-induced food safety concerns; and (5) food traceability. The review shows NIR spectroscopy and imaging to be effective tools that will play indispensable roles for food safety evaluation. In addition, on-line/real-time applications of these techniques promise to be a huge growth field in the near future.
Subject(s)
Food Safety , Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared/methods , Bacterial Toxins/analysis , Consumer Behavior , Food Additives/analysis , Food Analysis , Food Contamination/analysis , Food Quality , Pesticides/analysisABSTRACT
Determination of plant growth regulators (PGRs) in a signal transduction system (STS) is significant for transgenic food safety, but may be challenged by poor accuracy and analyte instability. In this work, a microwave-assisted extraction-derivatization (MAED) method is developed for six acidic PGRs in oil samples, allowing an efficient (<1.5 h) and facile (one step) pretreatment. Accuracies are greatly improved, particularly for gibberellin A3 (-2.72 to -0.65%) as compared with those reported (-22 to -2%). Excellent selectivity and quite low detection limits (0.37-1.36 ng mL(-1)) are enabled by fluorescence detection-mass spectrum monitoring. Results show the significant differences in acidic PGRs between transgenic and nontransgenic oils, particularly 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (1-NAA), implying the PGRs induced variations of components and genes. This study provides, for the first time, an accurate and efficient determination for labile PGRs involved in STS and a promising concept for objectively evaluating the safety of transgenic foods.
Subject(s)
Chemical Fractionation/methods , Plant Growth Regulators/isolation & purification , Plant Oils/analysis , Plants, Genetically Modified/chemistry , Plants/chemistry , Chemical Fractionation/instrumentation , Limit of Detection , Microwaves , Plant Growth Regulators/analysis , Plants/genetics , Plants, Genetically Modified/geneticsABSTRACT
El presente artículo reflexiona sobre los problemas éticos que se generan socialmente por la producción y el uso de alimentos transgénicos o genéticamente modificados obtenidos por la biotecnología, como: los intereses comerciales que guían esta nueva tecnología, los riesgos ecológicos y para la salud humana, y la posibilidad de introducir nuevas plagas. Cada país debe buscar su propia forma de regularizar el tema de los alimentos transgénicos para evitar abusos por empresas transnacionales, evitar riesgos y proteger sectores vulnerables de la agricultura y ganadería. Se propone la forma de diálogo bioético para poner en la balanza los sectores que apoyan o rechazan la producción y el uso de organismos genéticamente modificados para alimentación, clarificando los datos con ayuda de la ciencia y fomentando la libre información para un ambiente adecuado de posible desarrollo de esta tecnología en el contexto de cada país y comunidad.
This article reflects about the ethical issues generated in society by the production and use of transgenic or genetically modified food manufactured by biotechnology, such as: the commercial interests that guide this new technology, ecological risks, risks to human health, the possibility of introducing new plagues. Each country must regularize all aspects related to transgenic food in order to avoid risks and abuses by transnational companies and in order to protect vulnerable sectors of agriculture and livestock. Bioethical dialogue is proposed to balance both proponents, those who reject and those who support the production and use of genetically modified organisms for food, clarifying data with the help of science and promoting free information for an adequate environment for the possible development of this technology in the context of each country and community.
O presente artigo reflete sobre os problemas éticos gerados socialmente pela produção e pelo uso de alimentos transgênicos ou geneticamente modificados obtidos pela biotecnologia, como os interesses comerciais que orientam esta nova tecnologia, os riscos ecológicos e para a saúde humana, e a possibilidade de introduzir novas pragas. Cada país deve buscar a sua própria forma de regularizar o tema dos alimentos transgênicos para evitar abusos por empresas transnacionais, evitar riscos e proteger setores vulneráveis da agricultura e pecuária. Propõe-se a forma de diálogo bioético para colocar na balança os setores que apoiam ou rechaçam a produção e o uso de organismos geneticamente modificados para alimentação, clareando os dados com a ajuda da ciência e fomentando a livre informação para um ambiente adequado de possível desenvolvimento desta tecnologia no contexto de cada país e comunidade.
