Rumours of GM rice sales spark safety investigation

Dubai: UAE food safety officials are investigating claims made by an environmental group that genetically modified rice is sold here.

If proven true, officials have promised action, possibly removing the genetically modified (GM) product from the market and destroying it.

Environmental group Greenpeace International, which is strongly anti-GM foods, released a 29-page report on the Middle East, saying that LLRICE601 rice, which has not been approved for human consumption in the US and Europe for its allergenic properties, is available in UAE supermarkets.

It also said that the rice produced by a US company has not been labelled a GM food, leading to consumption by unsuspecting consumers since last year.

Ameena Ahmad Mohammad, head of food and environment laboratory section at Dubai Central Laboratory, told Gulf News that they would investigate the allegation by testing samples of rice available in the market.

"We will follow up the allegations. We did not have time to do this because we have been busy with the conference," she said at the conclusion of the 2nd Dubai International Food Safety Conference.

Random tests

She added that her department had been randomly testing several food samples available in the market to see if they were GM foods since last year but did not find any evidence of the 'contamination' claims by Greenpeace.

Dr Ameen Yousuf, food safety consultant with the General Secretariat of Municipalities in the UAE, promised action if the investigation proved the claims.

"If it is not fit for human consumption, then action will be taken. This might include removing it from the market or destroying it," he said

GM foods are not banned in the UAE as long as they are found to be safe by international organisations, such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Labelling foods as GM is also not required under UAE law, something the secretariat is trying to address.

Dr Yousuf said they were trying to pass legislation compelling companies to label GM foods before they become available on the market. "We thought it is the right of the consumer to know whether they are consuming GM foods," he said.

He did not give a time frame on when a decision would be made.

CROPS
Manipulated at the cellular level

Genetically modified (GM) foods are those, such as rice and tomatoes, that have been modified at the cellular level to give them certain characteristics, including heightened resistance to plant pests and disease and bigger crops.

They are widely believed to be part of the solution to world hunger, as they can be less vulnerable to the vagaries of nature, such as the weather.

However, the technology has generated resistance among environmental and other groups worldwide on grounds that it poses health risks such as the spread of disease across species barriers, allergic reactions and long-term damage to the human body.

As such, many countries have set up committees to assess the safety of GM