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GM Food Monitoring Results 2019

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

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
MON-810

<0.1 %
<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

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

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