Understanding Saudi Public’s Awareness, Perception, and Attitudes towards Genetically Modified Foods

Introduction: Recent technological developments have enabled many scientists to produce a wide variety of foods that meet consumers’ desires for diversity and quality. Genetically modified (GM) foods have long been a controversial topic, and consumer reliance on these foods depends on their trust in biotechnology institutions due to their lack of knowledge about the risks and benefits. This study aimed to assess the awareness, attitude, and perception of GM foods among the Saudi population, as well as to identify the association between age, gender, and education level in the studied population and their awareness level towards genetically modified foods. Method: Data was collected using a structured, pretested questionnaire drawn from previous studies, after obtaining written consent. The questionnaire included three sections focusing on personal data, general knowledge of GM foods, and perception, attitudes, and beliefs towards GM foods. Our study included 500 responses. Results: The majority of the participants were female, located in the central region, and had a university education. Most participants provided a correct definition of GM foods and indicated that they had heard about them, but were unsure if they had eaten these foods in the past. Their knowledge of these foods was good. Regarding opinions and attitudes towards these foods, the majority of participants were neutral. They approved of using GM foods because it produces more food, tastes better, and can be stored for a long time. In conclusion, the study highlights the urgent necessity to raise awareness and knowledge regarding genetically modified foods among the Saudi population. It emphasizes the importance of educating consumers about the potential advantages and risks associated with consuming such foods, enabling them to make informed decisions. It is crucial to integrate awareness and education about genetically modified foods into the technological and agricultural advancements in Saudi Arabia.

College Students' Cognition of Genetically Modified Foods

In order to have knowledge about the college students'awareness and acceptance of genetically modified foods and their attitudes toward the identification of genetically modified foods and the government's regulation,we conduct a questionnaire survey of 150 college students'cognition of genetically modified foods in North College Town of Zhengzhou City.The results show that the college students have a certain understanding of genetically modified foods,but the cognition level is low;electronic media has become the main channel for the current college students to know the information about genetically modified foods;for security reasons,the majority of college students are wary of genetically modified foods,and pay more attention to whether there is genetically modified component in the foods labeling;college students generally believe that the government should strengthen the supervision of genetically modified foods,and make the GM labeling system strict,to protect consumers'right to know and choice.

Genetically-Modified Organisms in United States Agriculture: Mandate for Food Labeling

The production of foods with genetically modified organisms (GMOs) has risen rapidly over the past three decades to comprise nearly 90% of crops grown in the United States today. Currently, there are no mandates for labeling foods containing GMOs. GMO agricultural crops contain the insertion of genes encoding for pesticides, pesticide resistance, growth factors, or other substances not normally present. In addition to the foreign genes that are inserted, hundreds to thousands of mutations disrupt normal genes in GMO plants. Recently, animal studies have demonstrated toxicity of GMO foods causing organ failure, infertility, carcinomas and death. The FDA requirement of ingredients added to foods be labeled on the product is not applied to GMO foods, precluding the consumer’s right to know. GMOs provide an economic incentive to companies because the seeds can be patented, driving up costs and creating the potential for monopolies. Herbicide-resistance conferred by GMOs has resulted in higher pesticide applications, which correlate with higher human cancer rates, and the emergence of pesticide-resistant weeds and insects. GMO toxins are spreading into to non-target insects, waterways and aquatic organisms, with toxicity to non-target organisms and resultant contamination of disparate ecosystems in the food chain. The appropriateness of mandatory GMO labeling of foods in the United States is discussed.

Consumers’ Awareness of Genetically Modified Food and Their Willingness to Buy in Yanbian Prefecture

Having a clear understanding of consumers' awareness of genetically modified food and their willingness to buy, plays a very important role in formulating the regulatory policy of genetically modified food and regulating the market of genetically modified food. This paper takes the supermarket consumers as the study object. Through on-site questionnaire survey, we find that consumers' awareness of genetically modified food is not high in Yanbian Prefecture, and their willingness to buy is also low; the prices of genetically modified food, consumers' income, educational level and so on, are the main factors that affect the willingness to buy. Based on this, we put forth the relevant recommendations: increasing publicity efforts to safeguard consumers' right to know and choose; increasing supervision efforts to improve the existing regulatory system of genetically modified food; actively organizing forces to carry out the study on safety of genetically modified food.

An Empirical Study on the Genetically Modified Food Risk Perceived by the College Students with Different Majors

The debate about the safety of genetically modified foods has never stopped,and different consumers have different judgments. On the basis of literature research,this paper designs the corresponding questionnaire for empirical analysis. With the college students as the object of study,this paper explores the differences in perceived genetically modified food risk by the college students with different majors,as well as the differences in the information processing mode adopted by the college students with different majors,and the differences in the perceived risk after adopting different information processing mode. The results show that there are significant differences in the perceived genetically modified food risk among the college students with different majors,the economics students have the highest average perceived risk; there are also significant differences in the information processing mode adopted by the college students with different majors,and the perceived risk is different when using the heuristic information processing mode.

Genetically Modified Doubts Imported GM soybeans impact China’s local farmers and create food safety concerns

The cooking oil made from the imported soybeans does not contain transgenic proteins. So there will be no food safety threat.

The likely impact of genetically modified soybeans in the Brazilian collective feeding service

Objective: To expose the likely impact of genetically modified foods in Collective Feeding. Methods: This was a case study conducted on a steel company (SC) in Rio de Janeiro State. The likely impact recognition began with the preparation of a soy food products’ list. Then, we verified these products’ frequency on the Food and Nutrition Unit (FNU) menu from the SC, outlining the offer profile. We calculated odds ratios and binomial distribution probability for assessing exposure to soy that may be transgenic. Food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) regarding soy products was applied. The convergence of daily products’ relative frequency of this population and the population from a reference study about FFQ validation in Rio de Janeiro was verified. Confrontation took place between the classification of foods by the consumers’ likely exposure to soy and the percentage deviation between observed relative frequency of products’ intake offered on the FNU and on the reference study. Results: A list of 51 products were created and 16 of them integrated the menu, e.g. flour, chicken, sausage, maize, instant pudding, bologna, hot dogs and peanuts. Food usually consumed by FNU users and concomitantly consumed in reference study were cookies, flour, spaghetti, bread, cake, instant pudding, sausage and hot dogs. By the classification and percentage deviations results, cookies, breads and pasta were the “villains” of soy’s susceptibility. Coclusion: It was possible to show the likely impact of genetically modified foods in Collective Feeding, confirming that these consumers were exposed to soybeans that may be transgenic.

转基因食品(GMF)标识管理及其检测技术研究进展

介绍世界主要国家和地区对转基因食品的标识管理法规,同时概述转基因食品检测技术的研究进展情况,并探讨监管与检测中的相关问题。

PCR技术在食品检测领域的国内标准使用现状及应用进展

PCR技术作为一种高效、快速、高灵敏度和高特异性的检测方法,被广泛应用于食品检测的各个领域中。文章归纳了PCR技术在国内食品检测标准中的应用现状,总结了该技术在食品致病菌检测、转基因食品检测、动物检疫、物种鉴定、过敏原检测及食品工业化生产过程中的应用情况,并根据自身的工作经验,指出了PCR技术的发展难点并展望了其发展前景,以期为PCR技术在食品检测领域的广泛应用提供参考和帮助。

转基因食品安全性评价与管理研究

随着现代生物科技发展,转基因技术得以广泛应用,但人们对转基因食品的安全性仍存有争议。因此,本文结合我国转基因食品发展现状,对转基因食品展开安全性评价,并提出保障转基因食品安全性的措施,旨在改善转基因食品生产环境,为转基因食品产业健康发展提供助力。

A Novel Approach for Evaluation of Food Functions and Safety Applied in RR GM Soybeans

[Objective] This study aimed to evaluate tbe healthy risk of genetically modified （ GM ） soybeans by using a novel approach for functions and safety of food. [ Me^od] Different from traditional evaluation of substantial equivalence, three great innovations were performed in this study, involving in basic diet, evalu- ation approaches and principle, as well as the clarification of connotation differences between absolute and relative mass of organs. Hence a novel BDI-GS （Bendib Damage Index and General Score） evaluation approach was established and applied in comparative evaluation between RR GM and natural soybeans. Healthy male ICR mice during linear growth were selected; experimental mice were fed with 15% RR GM soybeans and 15% natural soybeans blending maize meal diets, and control mice were fed with single maize meal diet for 13 d; the mice were dissected after collecting blood samples and perfectly obtained nine organs or tissues to re- cord their masses and conduct statistical analyses. [Result] Plenty of matching information was obtained through simple design. The growth performance of treated mice was markedly of individual differences, some mice were thwarted due to regular intake of RR soybeans. Meanwhile, the functions and safety of RR soybeans were markedly lowered in overall nutritional and healthy effects than those of natural soybeans expressed in GS values, and presents some declines in nutrition and health of thymus, pancreas and spermary; especially, it can make thymus immune （P 〈0.05） in markedly lower level than that of natural soybeans. [ Conclusion] Therefore, major troubles and risks of RR soybeans intake are of personal risks in different degrees, in addition, it may increase sub-health and related chronic epi- demics risks, and herein it will presents certain safety issues. The creation of this novel evaluation system provides a simple and available evaluation approach for functions and potential risks revelation of food effects, and will yield far-reaching influences to safety evaluation and healthy development of GM foods, as well as public health.

美国农政体系与转基因商业化——兼论中国转基因作物推广的影响

尽管仍然存在争议,但是转基因技术从实验室技术到商业化发展是全球农业发展的重要进步。在这一历史进程中,美国农政体系发挥了重要作用,尤其是法律体系的谦抑性和政策体系的现实性。本文也正是由此入手,通过回溯美国转基因商业化相关的代表性法案和政策,讨论美国农政体系在科技进步与商业实现之间的关系。站在发展角度,美国的历史经验在中国推动转基因商业化的进程,尤其对经济社会影响及相关争议的处理是具备参考价值的。出于将问题具体化的考虑,本文以中国玉米品种转基因技术的全面推广和品种放开为例,评估中国转基因商业化的具体经济影响,其结果不仅包含转基因作物推广将大幅提升中国粮食产能裕度的事实,同时也可能改变国内农业生产结构和利益分配格局,甚至会间接影响中美农业贸易结构。这也对丰富和完善中国农政体制提出了全新的要求,在策略上谋划新的篇章。

核酸检测技术鉴别转基因食品

转基因作物给农民乃至社会带来巨大的效益,但其安全性备受争议,转基因食品的检测引发了学者的高度重视。重点介绍了几种常用的鉴别转基因食品的核酸检测技术,如基因芯片技术、PCR、环介导等温扩增(Loop-med-iated Isothermal Amplification,LAMP)、重组酶聚合酶扩增(Recombinase Polymerase Amplification,RPA)、交叉引物等温扩增(Cross Prime Amplification,CPA)。对这些技术的原理、优缺点进行了总结并对其进行展望。提出梯型熔解温度等温扩增(Ladder-Shape Melting Temperature Isothermal Amplification,LMTIA)技术,推进核酸检测技术的研究及在转基因食品检测中的应用。在转基因食品的检测中,RT-PCR,LAMP,LMTIA等均能检出0.01%以下的含量,可用于定量检测,表明这些核酸技术在转基因食品的检测有很好的应用前景。

南亚国家转基因作物发展及相关政策分析

南亚国家农村人口众多,农业主要是小农经营。随着近年来人口急剧增长,以及干旱天气和极端气候频繁发生,加之较为落后的生产方式等,南亚国家对粮食问题的担忧一直存在。尽管转基因作物在南亚国家还存在诸多争议,但转基因作物的出现为解决其农业发展中遇到的问题提供了一种方法。南亚国家对转基因作物发展采取谨慎原则,旨在维护其粮食安全和生物多样性、保护小农利益。展望未来,南亚国家会加强转基因作物研发,注重自有技术,完善转基因作物监管政策,保障转基因作物与传统作物共存,加强区域合作进行转基因作物研发生产以及进出口。南亚国家转基因作物的发展情况及相关政策,可为中国、亚太及世界其他地区提供借鉴与启示。

转基因食品安全的领域归属与法律规制

转基因食品安全领域通常会存在着各利益主体在领域归属确认与安全规制过程中的利益博弈。运用博弈论思维,构建博弈模型对法律领域与科学领域主体在食品安全规制下的交互策略选择进行分析可知,法律领域是转基因食品安全规制的正当性基础来源。从经济效益与潜在风险视角看,明确转基因食品安全的概念及其领域归属、遵循法律规制理论与实践动态差别化经验、借鉴欧盟设置的严格规制模式以及探究我国转基因食品安全的规制路径,具有重要意义。在我国涉及转基因食品安全立法的文件中,《食品安全法》等相关规范的硬法属性不足,应该采取“以外促进”方式,推进转基因基本法律规范的制定实施,建立健全转基因食品标识制度,拓展转基因食品领域公众参与监管途径,完善转基因食品安全侵权救济举措,多渠道创新规制路径以便有效应对转基因食品安全风险。在转基因食品安全的法律领域归属明确之后,相关领域规范性法律文件应将重点放在协调人身权益或是生态权益与成本收益之间的冲突,突出安全健康的优先地位。

粮食安全背景下实现食品与生态安全的法律路径

粮食问题是影响国计民生的要务,粮食安全更是占据重要战略地位,关系到国家的经济发展、社会进步。改革开放以来,粮食供给压力逐渐因迅猛发展的“石油农业”而有所缓解,带来的却是农业面源污染和食品安全事故系统性爆发。耕地被污染破坏,“农药”“激素”等看得见的食品安全问题与“转基因”等看不见的食品安全风险并存,严重危害生态环境与人体系统,亟需通过制定《农药管理法》《转基因食品安全法》等法律法规来进行管制。文章有针对性地对现行法律中存在的立法、监管、责任、防治机制等问题进行构建与完善。针对耕地保护法律对策进行研究,加强粮食农药污染防控的法律应对并找到适合我国转基因食品安全的立法模式,从而实现粮食安全、生态安全、食品安全的协同可持续发展。

国际粮食贸易存在的风险及对策分析

该文简要介绍国际粮食贸易,分析国际粮食贸易存在的供需风险、价格风险、转基因粮食风险、金融化风险、政策风险和气候风险等,并围绕参与国际粮食贸易、强化国际与国内粮食价格相挂钩的思想意识、提高粮食综合生产能力、合理控制粮食自给率与储备规模、健全粮食安全监测应急机制、完善区域粮食产销合作协调机制、分散粮食进口风险、自主知识产权转基因技术研发应用、建设全球大宗农产品交易中心、争取有利的国际贸易规则及积极应对气候变化等方面,就相应对策进行探讨。

深圳居民转基因食品卫生安全认知状况调查

目的了解和分析深圳市居民对转基因食品及其卫生安全知识的认知和需求状况,为开展相关知识的宣传教育提供依据。方法设计自编问卷,抽取全市范围内1475个家庭电话号码电话进行访问调查。结果完成访问的电话号码322个。市民对转基因食品的知晓率和接受率分别为36.3%和16.67%,仅2.68%的受访者对转基因食品比较了解,50.36%的受访者认为转基因食品与自己的生活没有关系;知晓率随文化程度的升高而上升,了解程度随年龄增高而降低;接受率则与年龄和知晓率有关,16~24岁年龄段及听说过转基因食品的受访者接受率高;66.29%受访者希望了解转基因食品卫生安全知识,最希望了解的信息是转基因食品安全性（50.93%）。结论政府有关部门需要大力加强转基因食品卫生安全知识宣传,保障市民的知情权、选择权和健康权。

转基因食品的检测方法进展

为满足转基因食品标记的需要,必须检测鉴定食品中外源基因或其基因产物的有无。对转基因食品检测的方法进行了综述。

转基因食品快速检测技术的研究进展

本文概述了转基因食品在国内外的发展状况,着重介绍了转基因食品的常规检测方法、快速检测技术、发展方向及所面临的问题,对指导转基因食品的检测具有重要的意义。