Genetically modified organism presence in food from Arad county during 2007-2008

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Article Title:	Genetically modified organism presence in food from Arad county during 2007-2008
Authors:	Daniela Cirnatu, Afilon Jompan
Affiliation:	“Vasile Goldis” Western University, Arad, Romania
Abstract:	During the last decades, crops for food are increasingly developed based on genetic engineering, where foreign DNA fragments with specific characteristics were inserted into the genome. The safety of these genetically modified organisms should be assessed for both livestock and human nutrition. The detection, the identification and the quantification of the genetically modified organism presence in crops and along the feed/food production is essential to properly fulfil legal requirements. It requires labelling of food and feed products containing authorized GMOs or GM derived material except if, on an ingredient-basis, the level of 0.9% is not exceeded and provided that this presence was the result of an accidental contamination. The results show the presence of GMO’s in 22% of the samples but not a single sample exceeded the legal level for labelled non GMO products. Existence of valid detection methods and strategies are necessary for the enforcement of the European legislation that was progressively set up in this field.
Keywords:	food, genetically modified organisms, food safety
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*Correspondence:	Cirnatu Daniela, “Vasile Goldiş” Western University Arad, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Hygiene, no. 1 Feleacului St., 310396, Arad, Romania, email: danielacirnatu@yahoo.com