Main Article Content
Abstract
This study aimed to screen for products containing Genetically Modified (GM) food in the Omani market using detection methods for the presence of Roundup Ready Soybean, Bt176 and MON810 maize in food products and to quantify it in positive samples using real time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). A total of 100 food samples were collected randomly from markets in Oman. Out of 59 samples, 8 (13.5%) were successfully amplified with the maize plant specific PCR. GM screening showed negative for all samples, which indicated low or no GM maize in the samples tested. Out of 57 soy containing samples, 40 (70%) were successfully amplified by the soybean plant specific PCR. Six samples out of the 40 (15%) were found positive for GM using P35S-cf3/P35S-cr4 and HA-nos118-f/HA-nos118-r, primer pairs and using GMO5/GMO9 and GMO7/GMO8 primer pairs for specific detection of Roundup Ready Soybean. Real time PCR (TaqMan™ system) was carried out for the positive Roundup Ready Soybean samples and results showed that 2 out of the positive GM soy samples contained more than 5%; a Soy Formula for Infants (imported) sample contained 21% GM soybean and raw soybean seeds (imported in bulk amounts and packed in Oman) contained 88% GM soybean. The results demonstrate for the first time the presence of GM-soy in food products in the Omani market, reinforcing the need for the use of qualitative and quantitative methods for GM detection in food products.
Keywords
Article Details
References
- Hai Kang Life Corporation Limited, 2010 (http://www.hkdnachips.com, 10th May 2010).
- Hossain, F. and Onyango B. Product attributes and consumer acceptance of nutritionally enhanced genetically modified foods. International Journal of Consumer Studies, 2004, 28(3), 255–267.
- Kershen, D. Health and Food Safety: The Benefits of Bt-Corn. Food and Drug Law Journal, 2006, 61( 2).
- Weekes, R., Allnutt, T., Boffey, C., Morgan, S., Bilton, M., Daniels, R. and Henry, C. A study of crop-to-crop gene flow using farm scale sites of fodder maize (Zea ays L.) in the UK. Transgenic Resources, 2007, 16, 203–211.
- Cardarelli, P., Branquinho, M.R, Ferreira, R.T.B., da Cruz, F.P, and Gemal, A.L. Detection of GMO in food products in Brazil: the INCQS experience. Food Control, 2005, 16, 859–866.
- Daunert, S., Deo, S., Morin, X. and Roda, A. The genetically modified foods debate: demystifying the controversy through analytical chemistry. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 2008, 392, 327–331.
- Abdullah, T., Radu S., Hassan, Z. and Hashim, J. Detection of Genetically modified soya in processed food sold
- commercially in Malaysia by PCR based method. Food Chemistry, 2006, 98(3), 575-579.
- El Sanhoty, R., Broll2, H., Grohmann, L., Linke, B., Spiegelberg, A., Bogl, K.-W. and Zagon, J. Genetically modified maize and soybean on the Egyptian food market. Nahrung/Food, 2002, 46(5), 360 – 363.
- Spiegelhalter, F., Lauter F-R. and Russell, J.M. Detection of Genetically Modified Food Products in a Commercial Laboratory. Journal of Food Science, 2001, 66(5), 634640.
- Randhawa, G., Singh, M., Chhabra R. and Sharma, R. Qualitative and Quantitative Molecular Testing Methodologies and Traceability Systems for Commercialised Bt Cotton Events and Other Bt Crops Under Field Trials in India. Food Analytical Methods. 2010 (Cited Online on July1, 2010).
- Querci, M., Jermini, M. and Eede, G. The Analysis of Food Samples for The Presence of Genetically Modified Organisms, Training Course User Manual, 2006. ISBN:92-79-02242-3, Catalogue no.: LB-X1-06-051-EN-C, European Commission, Directorate-General, Joint Research Centre & Institute for Health and Consumer Protection. Online Publication: http://gmotraining.jrc.it/, September 2008.
- Marmiroli N., Maestri E., Gullì M., Malcevschi A., Peano C., Bordoni R. and De Bellis G.. Methods for Detection of GMOs in Food and Feed. Review. Analytical Bioanalytical Chemistry, 2008, 392, 369-384.
- Ministry of Regional Municipalities, Environment and Water Resource in Oman and IUCN–The World Conservation Union WESCANA in Jordan. Biosafety: national capacity assessment and work plan. December 2006. Sultanate of Oman.
- Viljoen, C.D., Dajee, B.K. and Botha, G.M. Detection of GMO in food products in South Africa: Implications of GMO labelling. African Journal of Biotechnology, 2006, 5, 73-82.
- Brod, F.C.A & Arisi, A.C.M. ‘Quantification of Roundup Ready soybean in Brazilian soy-derived foods by real-time PCR’. International Journal of Food Science and Technology, 2008, 43, 1027-1032.
- Anklam, E., Gadani, F., Heinze, P., Pijnenburg, H. and Eede, G. Analytical methods for detection and determination of genetically modified organisms in agricultural crops and plant-derived food products. European Food Research Technology, 2002, 214, 3–26.
References
Hai Kang Life Corporation Limited, 2010 (http://www.hkdnachips.com, 10th May 2010).
Hossain, F. and Onyango B. Product attributes and consumer acceptance of nutritionally enhanced genetically modified foods. International Journal of Consumer Studies, 2004, 28(3), 255–267.
Kershen, D. Health and Food Safety: The Benefits of Bt-Corn. Food and Drug Law Journal, 2006, 61( 2).
Weekes, R., Allnutt, T., Boffey, C., Morgan, S., Bilton, M., Daniels, R. and Henry, C. A study of crop-to-crop gene flow using farm scale sites of fodder maize (Zea ays L.) in the UK. Transgenic Resources, 2007, 16, 203–211.
Cardarelli, P., Branquinho, M.R, Ferreira, R.T.B., da Cruz, F.P, and Gemal, A.L. Detection of GMO in food products in Brazil: the INCQS experience. Food Control, 2005, 16, 859–866.
Daunert, S., Deo, S., Morin, X. and Roda, A. The genetically modified foods debate: demystifying the controversy through analytical chemistry. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 2008, 392, 327–331.
Abdullah, T., Radu S., Hassan, Z. and Hashim, J. Detection of Genetically modified soya in processed food sold
commercially in Malaysia by PCR based method. Food Chemistry, 2006, 98(3), 575-579.
El Sanhoty, R., Broll2, H., Grohmann, L., Linke, B., Spiegelberg, A., Bogl, K.-W. and Zagon, J. Genetically modified maize and soybean on the Egyptian food market. Nahrung/Food, 2002, 46(5), 360 – 363.
Spiegelhalter, F., Lauter F-R. and Russell, J.M. Detection of Genetically Modified Food Products in a Commercial Laboratory. Journal of Food Science, 2001, 66(5), 634640.
Randhawa, G., Singh, M., Chhabra R. and Sharma, R. Qualitative and Quantitative Molecular Testing Methodologies and Traceability Systems for Commercialised Bt Cotton Events and Other Bt Crops Under Field Trials in India. Food Analytical Methods. 2010 (Cited Online on July1, 2010).
Querci, M., Jermini, M. and Eede, G. The Analysis of Food Samples for The Presence of Genetically Modified Organisms, Training Course User Manual, 2006. ISBN:92-79-02242-3, Catalogue no.: LB-X1-06-051-EN-C, European Commission, Directorate-General, Joint Research Centre & Institute for Health and Consumer Protection. Online Publication: http://gmotraining.jrc.it/, September 2008.
Marmiroli N., Maestri E., Gullì M., Malcevschi A., Peano C., Bordoni R. and De Bellis G.. Methods for Detection of GMOs in Food and Feed. Review. Analytical Bioanalytical Chemistry, 2008, 392, 369-384.
Ministry of Regional Municipalities, Environment and Water Resource in Oman and IUCN–The World Conservation Union WESCANA in Jordan. Biosafety: national capacity assessment and work plan. December 2006. Sultanate of Oman.
Viljoen, C.D., Dajee, B.K. and Botha, G.M. Detection of GMO in food products in South Africa: Implications of GMO labelling. African Journal of Biotechnology, 2006, 5, 73-82.
Brod, F.C.A & Arisi, A.C.M. ‘Quantification of Roundup Ready soybean in Brazilian soy-derived foods by real-time PCR’. International Journal of Food Science and Technology, 2008, 43, 1027-1032.
Anklam, E., Gadani, F., Heinze, P., Pijnenburg, H. and Eede, G. Analytical methods for detection and determination of genetically modified organisms in agricultural crops and plant-derived food products. European Food Research Technology, 2002, 214, 3–26.