Skip to main navigation menu Skip to main content Skip to site footer
##common.pageHeaderLogo.altText##

Research Article

Vol. 7 No. 1 (2003)

Detection of Genetically Modified Protein in Soy-containing Foods

  • Trace Agostino
  • Amanda Trukus
  • Micheal D. Jain, B.Sc.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.26443/mjm.v7i1.390
Submitted
October 27, 2020
Published
2020-12-01

Abstract

The use of genetically modified organisms (GMO) in food is a highly public and controversial issue. We have used an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect the genetically modified protein 5-enol-pyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate (EPSP) synthase within soy-containing food products from the grocery store. We found that EPSP synthase is detectable in 3 out of 5 food products tested. Of specific interest, we found contamination levels of EPSP synthase (0.36%) in Heinz' Pablum Soya Cereal, which is currently deemed to be free of genetic modifications by the company as well as by Greenpeace Canada. These results demonstrate that genetically modified organisms are present in foods commonly available for human consumption and that the widespread use of this technology may make it difficult to ensure that any given product is free of all traces of genetically modified protein.

References

  1. Adam D. Hostilities resume over future of GM crops. Nature. 419:327; 2002.
  2. Bohannon J. Zambia rejects GM food on scientist's advice. Science. 298(5596):1153-1154; 2002.
  3. Flothmann S, van Aken J. Of maize and men. Is the endorsement of GM crops science or politics? EMBO Reports. (8):644-7; 2001.
  4. Huang J, Pray C, Rozelle S. Enhancing the crops to feed the poor. Nature. 418(6898):678-84; 2002.
  5. Zimmermann MB, Hurrell RF. Improving iron, zinc, and vitamin A nutrition through plant biotechnology. Current Opinion in Biotechnology. 13(2):142-145; 2002.
  6. Trewavas, A. and Leaver, C. Is opposition to GM crops science or politics? An investigation into the arguments that GM crops pose a particular threat to the environment. EMBO Reports. 2, 455-459; 2001.
  7. Saegusa A. Japan may require labels on genetic food. Nature. 395:628; 1998.
  8. Haslberger AG. Monitoring and labeling for genetically modified products. Science. 287: 431-432; 2000.
  9. Lok C. Americans perplexed by GM food. Nature. 410:501; 2001.
  10. Frewer LJ, Miles S, Marsh R. The media and genetically modified foods: evidence in support of social amplification of risk. Risk Analysis. 22(4): 701-11; 2002.
  11. National Agricultural Statistics Service, United States Food and Drug Administration Prospective Plantings Report March 31, 2003 http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/usda.html
  12. Padgette SR, Taylor NB, Nida DL, et al. The composition of glyphosate-tolerant soybean seeds is equivalent to that of conventional soybeans. The Journal of Nutrition. 126(3): 702- 16; 1996.
  13. Protocol is available at http://www.sdix.com/PDF/Products/ 7099999%20v2.5.pdf
  14. Butler D. Europe gets tough on labeling genetically modified foodstuffs. Nature. 418:114; 2002.
  15. Harrison LA, Bailey MR, Naylor MW et al. The expressed protein in glyphosate-tolerant soybean, 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase from Agrobacterium sp. strain CP4, is rapidly digested in vitro and is not toxic to acutely gavaged mice. The Journal of Nutrition. X126(3):728-40; 1996.
  16. Chang HS, Kim NH, Park MJ et al. The 5- enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase of glyphosate- tolerant soybean expressed in Escherichia coli shows no severe allergenicity. Molecules and Cells 15(1):20-6; 2003.
  17. Burks AW, Fuchs RL. Assessment of the endogenous allergens in glyphosate-tolerant and commercial soybean varieties. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 96(6 Pt 1):1008- 10; 1995.
  18. Alexander TW, Sharma R, Okine EK et al. Impact of feed processing and mixed ruminal culture on the fate of recombinant EPSP synthase and endogenous canola plant DNA. FEMS Microbiology Letters 2002 214(2):263-9; 2002.
  19. Qaim, M. and Zilberman, D. Yield effects of genetically modified crops in developing countries. Science. 299(5608):900-2; 2003.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.