Editor's  Note

After nearly two decades, the debate over the ethics and safety of genetically-modified (GM) foods continues. The People’s Daily published a report on September 16 addressing the progress and rumors regarding GM food in China. 

GM products in China

Related  Reports

About GM products import
	China approves GM soybeans import China’s agricultural ministry has announced that it recently approved the import of three types of genetically modified soy beans. GM modified products are a controversial topic, not only in China, but around the world.
GM influx a dilemma for consumers, farmers China approves imports of three varieties of GM soybeans China's over-reliance on foreign soybeans worries farmers Imported GM soybeans safe, says government expert
About food safety
	Experts appeal for labeling GM food A war of words by two online celebrities has aroused a new round of debate on the safety of genetically modified (GM) food, with some experts appealing for the consumers' right to be informed when buying GM products.
North American crops failing with reliance on GM biotechnologies: Study Looking for danger in the wrong places High correlation between GM soybean and cancer: expert GM crops remain problematic for Asian countries Cropping out GM fears
Odd news
	Sasquatch squash: GM farmers harvest 100-kilo pumpkin An agricultural co-op in Baoding, Hebei Province is pumped over a giant 100-kilogram pumpkin harvested during their first year of growing newly-introduced genetically-modified vegetables.

Comments

GM technology demands confidence
GM technology is not mature yet. Research must be conducted openly and in accordance with the law. If the authorities are more open with the public about their determination to use these technologies to benefit everyone, they will earn respect and support sooner or later.

Chinese GM jitters understandable
Although the Chinese government mandated that all GM products be clearly labeled, reports late last year that children in Hunan Province were used as unwitting guinea pigs to test the effects of eating GM rice haven't done anything to inspire the public's confidence.

Related  Cases

●2008 - GM rice - China
Dozens of children in the town of Jiangkou, located in central China's Hunan province, are believed to have been fed modified "golden rice" as part of a nutrition research program led by a professor from the US' Tufts University in 2008.

●2006 - GM rice - US
US authorities said that LL Rice 601, an unauthorized GMO, had been found in samples of commercial rice on the US market. The US authorities have said that these traces of the unauthorized GM rice do not pose safety concerns, and similar lines are legal on the US market for human and animal consumption.

Web editor: yangruoyu@globaltimes.com.cn