Over one third of 323 samples of rice, fruits and vegetables collected by chance at supermarkets and traditional markets in HCM City are genetically-modified cooking, revealed experts.

Over one third of 323 samples of rice, fruits and vegetables collected by chance at supermarkets and traditional markets in HCM City are genetically-modified food, revealed the Centre for Quality Measurement No.3.

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These samples were foods processed from maize, soybean, potato, rice, and green beans collected from 17 supermarkets and markets from March to April 2009.

Tests show that 111 samples or 34.37 percent are positive to promoter 35S or terminator nos – a form of genetic modification, including 45 samples of maize, 29 soybean, 11 rice, 15 potato and 10 tomato samples.

The research work has been sent to the HCM City Department of Science and Technology for evaluation and to develop a document for city management agencies’ reference in controlling genetically-modified food.

Genetically-modified food has been debated by Vietnamese and foreign scientists for a long time. In Europe, genetically-modified food is strictly controlled, while the US and others consider this food as normal products. Some countries ask producers to note “this product uses genetic modification technology” on their labels.

In Vietnam, scientists said that some food products contain genetically-modified materials, but the labels don’t note it.

The former vice-director of the HCM City Institute for Public Health, Dr. Nguyen Xuan Mai, explained that when genetic modification enhances trees against drought or pests, it is useful. He added that genetic modification is sometimes not man-made, but occurs naturally.

Associate Professor Le Tran Binh, the director of the Institute for Biotechnology, remarked that Vietnam doesn’t have regulations on genetically-modified food and doesn’t ask producers to note it on product labels. He also mentioned that there is no scientific evidence about this type of food harming humans.

“The world is using genetically-modified products and there is no problem with it. Countries like the USA, India, China and Brazil, which have big populations, are using this kind of food,” Binh cited.

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Quan admitted that Vietnamese laws currently don’t have any regulation about the use of genetically-modified products. The Health Ministry is drafting an instruction of genetically-modified food and this content will be added to the draft Law on Food Safety.

PV