Authorised Genetically Modified (GM) food and food ingredients are allowed on the EU market once they comply with Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 and Regulation (EC) No 1830/2003.
Labelling on any food product containing or consisting of authorised GM food ingredients is mandatory where the GM proportion of the overall ingredient is higher than 0.9 %. A ‘GM-free’ label indicates that products do not contain or are not produced using GM food ingredients and must not mislead the consumer as per Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers.
In 2019, the Environmental Health Services of the Health Service Executive collected 41 food samples which were analysed by the Public Analyst’s Laboratory in Cork for the presence of GM ingredients. Samples were screened for 35S promoter (P35S) and nos terminator (T-nos) DNA sequences, and GM events identified and quantified where possible.
Table 1 shows the results of this annual monitoring. No samples were found to be non-compliant with EU law on GM food.
Table 1 Results for the GM ingredients checks in 2019.
Food containing Maize |
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Sample No. |
Sample description |
Country of origin |
Food chain stage |
GM Event |
Level |
Result |
Observations |
1 |
Cornflour |
Ireland |
Retailers |
- |
- |
Compliant |
- |
2 |
Cornflour |
Ireland |
Retailers |
- |
- |
Compliant |
- |
3 |
Cornflour |
Not Stated |
Wholesaler/Distributors |
- |
- |
Compliant |
- |
4 |
Cornflour maize starch |
Ireland |
Retailers |
- |
- |
Compliant |
- |
5 |
Polenta |
Argentina |
Wholesaler/ Distributors |
NK603 |
<0.1 % |
Compliant |
Level <0.9 %, compliant with Reg. 1829/2003, Reg. 1830/2003 and Reg. 1169/2011 |
6 |
Popcorn |
Ireland |
Manufacturer |
- |
- |
Compliant |
- |
7 |
Salted popcorn |
Ireland |
Retailers |
- |
- |
Compliant |
- |
8 |
Salted popcorn |
Not Stated |
Wholesaler/Distributors |
- |
- |
Compliant |
- |
9 |
Unpopped popcorn kernels |
France |
Service Sector |
- |
- |
Compliant |
- |
10 |
Yellow popcorn |
Ireland |
Import/Export |
- |
- |
Compliant |
- |
11 |
Multigrain wraps |
Ireland |
Retailers |
- |
- |
Compliant |
Maize not detected |
12 |
Lightly salted tortilla chips |
Ireland |
Wholesaler/ Distributors |
- |
- |
Compliant |
- |
Food containing Rice |
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Sample No. |
Sample description |
Country of origin |
Food chain stage |
GM Event |
Level |
Result |
Observations |
1 |
Rice milk |
Ireland |
Retailers |
- |
- |
Compliant |
- |
2 |
Rice milk |
Ireland |
Retailers |
- |
- |
Compliant |
- |
3 |
Rice milk |
Suriname |
Retailers |
- |
- |
Compliant |
- |
4 |
Rice milk - organic plant based |
Ireland |
Retailers |
- |
- |
Compliant |
- |
5 |
Rice noodles |
Ireland |
Retailers |
- |
- |
Compliant |
- |
6 |
Rice cakes |
Not Stated |
Retailers |
- |
- |
Compliant |
- |
7 |
Rice cakes natural |
Ireland |
Service Sector |
- |
- |
Compliant |
- |
8 |
Brown rice cakes (organic) |
Ireland |
Retailers |
- |
- |
Compliant |
- |
9 |
Rice cakes salted |
Not Stated |
Wholesaler/ Distributors |
- |
- |
Compliant |
- |
10 |
Premium rice crackers sea salt flavour |
Taiwan |
Service Sector |
- |
- |
Compliant |
- |
11 |
Salt & vinegar rice cakes |
Belgium |
Retailers |
- |
- |
Compliant |
- |
12 |
Rice cakes (with sunflower) |
Poland |
Retailers |
- |
- |
Compliant |
- |
13 |
Wafle slim rice cakes with sunflower |
Poland |
Retailers |
- |
- |
Compliant |
- |
14 |
100 % Thai Hom Mali rice |
Thailand |
Not Stated |
- |
- |
Compliant |
- |
15 |
Rice murukku |
Not Stated |
Retailers |
- |
- |
Compliant |
- |
16 |
Organic brown rice chips |
Not Stated |
Retailers |
- |
- |
Compliant |
- |
Food containing Soybean |
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Sample No. |
Sample description |
Country of origin |
Food chain stage |
GM Event |
Level |
Result |
Observations |
1 |
Soya drink |
Germany |
Retailers |
- |
- |
Compliant |
- |
2 |
Soya drink unsweetened |
Ireland |
Retailers |
- |
- |
Compliant |
- |
3 |
Soya drink unsweetened |
Ireland |
Retailers |
- |
- |
Compliant |
- |
4 |
Soya drink unsweetened |
Ireland |
Retailers |
- |
- |
Compliant |
- |
5 |
Organic soya drink |
Ireland |
Retailers |
- |
- |
Compliant |
- |
6 |
Soya milk |
Ireland |
Retailers |
- |
- |
Compliant |
- |
7 |
Soya milk |
Not Stated |
Retailers |
- |
- |
Compliant |
- |
8 |
Organic soya beans |
Ireland |
Retailers |
- |
- |
Compliant |
- |
9 |
Thai light soy sauce |
Thailand |
Not Stated |
- |
- |
Inconclusive |
Unable to extract sufficient quality DNA for GMO testing. The sample is deemed compliant with Regulation (EC) 178/2002 |
10 |
Soya dessert - vanilla flavour |
Ireland |
Retailers |
- |
- |
Compliant |
- |
11 |
Blackcurrant/pomegranate soya yogurt |
Ireland |
Retailers |
- |
- |
Compliant |
- |
12 |
Peach/pineapple/passion fruit soya yogurt |
Ireland |
Retailers |
- |
- |
Compliant |
- |
13 |
Soya flour |
United Kingdom |
Retailers |
MON-89788 |
<0.1 % |
Compliant |
Level <0.9 %, compliant with Reg. 1829/2003, Reg. 1830/2003 and Reg. 1169/2011 |