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.

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.

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.

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.

Thansgenic peanut plants obtained by particle bombardment via somatic embryogenesis regeneration system

After pre-culture and treatment of osmosis, cotyledons of immature peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) zygotic embryos were transformed via particle bombardment with a plasmid containing a chimeric hph gene conferring resistance to hygromycin and a chimeric intron-gus gene. Selection for hygromycin resistant calluses and somatic embryos was initiated at 10th d post-bombardment on medium containing 10-25 mg/L hygromycin. Under continuous selection, hygromycin resistant plantlets were regenerated from somatic embryos and were recovered from nearly 1.6% of the bombarded cotyledons. The presence and integration of foreign DNA in regenerated hygromycin resistant plants was confirmed by PCR (polymerase chain reaction) for the intron-gus gene and by Southern hybridization of the hph gene. GUS enzyme activity was detected in leaflets from transgenic plants but not from control, non-transformed plants. The production of transgenic plants are mainly based on a newly improved somatic embryogenesis regeneration system developed by us.

以检测为基础的高校转基因试验基地安全管理研究

转基因技术对选育高产、高品质的作物品种和全球粮食安全具有重要贡献。我国高度重视农业转基因技术的研究和发展,但转基因仍然存在一定的环境风险,需要被严格监管。高校转基因试验基地是开展转基因技术及其应用研究的重要平台。该文从转基因植物的种植现状及其潜在风险出发,以浙江大学为例详细介绍了以转基因检测为基础的全方位监管溯源流程,包括从种子—幼苗—果实—秸秆—土壤残留根系等不同阶段的取样检测,提出了以检测为基础的高校转基因试验基地安全监管方式。

转基因食品分析检测技术研究进展

随着转基因研发技术的快速发展及在农业领域产业化应用的不断推进,抗逆、抗病和高产优质的转基因(genetically modified,GM)作物品种日渐增多。但转基因食品(genetically modified food,GMF)在带来极大经济效益同时,其安全性也备受争议。因此,世界各国不断建立和完善GM产品标识制度,有些国家甚至规定了转基因成分(genetically modified ingredients,GMIs)具体阈值限量。为更好地对GMF安全性提供评价,识别和量化GMIs检测技术的持续创新与发展尤为重要。本文从基于外源核酸水平的检测技术和基于外源蛋白的检测技术两个方面,系统介绍了定性聚合酶链式反应(polymerase chain reaction,PCR)技术、定量PCR技术、等温扩增技术、基因组测序技术、酶联免疫吸附技术、免疫层析试纸条技术以及较新的CRISPR/Cas核酸检测技术等重要技术的原理、应用情况和研究进展,并总结分析各转基因食品成分检测技术的优缺点和亟需解决的难点问题,以期为促进GMF快速、准确及高通量检测技术发展,为确保我国GMF安全的高效准确的监督提供有效支撑。

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。

Evaluation of the potential exposure of butterflies to genetically modified maize pollen in protected areas in Italy

Environmental impacts of genetically modified crops are mandatorily assessed during their premarket phase. One of the areas of concern is the possible impact on nontar- get organisms. Crops expressing Cry toxins might affect Lepidoptera larvae living outside cultivated fields, through pollen deposition on wild plants, which constitute their food source. While pollen toxicity varies among different events, possible exposure ofnontarget species depends on the agro-environmental conditions. This study was conducted in two protected areas in Italy, characterized by different climatic conditions, where many Lepi- doptera species thrive in proximity to maize cultivations. To estimate the possible exposure in absence of the actual stressor （e.g., Cryl-expressing maize plants）, we conducted a two-year field survey of butterflies and weeds. Indicator species were selected--Aglais （Inachis） io in the Northern site and Vanessa cardui in the Southern site--and their phe- nology was investigated. Pollen dispersal from maize fields was measured by collection in Petri dishes. Duration and frequency of exposure was defined by the overlap between pollen emission and presence of larvae on host plants. Different risk scenarios are expected in the two regions： highest exposure is foreseen forA. io in the Northern site, while minimal exposure is estimated for V. cardui in the Southern site. In the latter case, locally grown maize cultivars flower in mid-summer in coincidence with an aestivation period for several butterfly species due to hot and dry conditions. Moreover, host plants of V. cardui are at the end of their life cycle thus limiting food availability.

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.

我国转基因耐除草剂作物研发与应用

杂草是引起作物减产的重要农业有害生物之一。基因重组技术为培育转基因耐除草剂作物提供了有力的手段,耐除草剂作物的种植也为农民带来了更多的除草选择,在扩大杀草谱、提高除草效果、提高作物安全性、改善环境和简化栽培模式等方面起到了推动作用。美国、巴西、阿根廷和加拿大等国家的转基因作物应用率接近饱和。以耐草甘膦为代表的耐除草剂作物商业化为种植国带来了显著的经济、社会和生态效益。在转基因生物新品种培育科技重大专项资金支持下,我国将生物技术应用于耐除草剂作物育种,研发出了多个抗虫/耐除草剂玉米、耐除草剂大豆转化体。其中,‘DBN9936’‘DBN958’‘中黄6106’等含有耐除草剂基因的11个玉米转化体和3个大豆转化体获得农业转基因生物生产应用安全证书。试点种植结果显示,上述转化体配套使用草甘膦除草效果好、增产和节本,有利于大豆-玉米带状复合种植和后茬作物轮作倒茬。本文在概述杂草防控对耐除草剂作物需求的基础上,总结了耐除草剂作物研发与试验种植进展,论述了耐除草剂作物在我国的应用前景,以期为我国转基因耐除草剂作物的目标除草剂使用与管理提供参考。

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。

CRISPR/Cas系统在基因修饰植物及其产品检测应用中的原理和进展

转基因及基因编辑的基因修饰植物发展迅猛,相关的检测技术也面临更多挑战,尤其是对于无外源DNA引入的基因编辑产品,其检测难度更高,传统的检测技术已无法满足。基于CRISPR/Cas检测系统中不同Cas蛋白所具有的附属非特异切割活性被广泛应用于分子检测领域,它与LAMP和RPA等温扩增相结合可实现准确快速的现场检测,甚至是对单核苷酸突变的基因编辑产品识别和检测。但是,该检测系统在植物基因修饰产品检测中的应用才刚刚起步,本文对该检测系统的原理及其在基因修饰的植物及其产品中的应用进行了评述。

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。