Are there gm foods in australia

It will mean GM crops can now be grown in every Australian state except Tasmania. Major farming groups have welcomed the move. GM proponents say the biotechnology leads to better crop yields and may solve food shortages and reduce infestations of weeds and pests.

But opponents say GM crops are a potential threat to the environment and human health. They fear the technology will encourage superweeds, increase antibiotic resistance and food allergies in humans and may have other unintended effects. So where does the truth lie? Genetic modification is the use of technology to change the genes of living things.

Genetically modified crops were introduced commercially in the s. The NSW moratorium began in following concerns from some importers and manufacturers.

Announcing the lifting of the ban in March, NSW Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall said his government had been working to ensure trade and marketing issues surrounding GM food were well managed.

He said the Commonwealth Gene Technology Regulator will assess all applications to grow GM crops, ensuring they are safe for people and the environment. The NSW decision follows similar moves by other mainland states in recent years, including South Australia, which lifted the GM ban in with an exemption for Kangaroo Island. A moratorium remains in the ACT. So are the benefits of GM crops real? To answer this question, we can look to three precedents: GM canola, cotton and safflower, which have been grown in Australia for many years.

These crops were exempt from the moratoria in NSW and other states, and evidence suggests their cultivation has been a success.

GM cotton has been modified with insecticidal genes, which research shows makes it more resistant to pests. What are some of the health concerns? What GM foods can you buy in Australia? Are they labelled as GM? What are some of the benefits? Do organic products contain GMOs? Concerns about the dominance of a handful of multinational agrichemical and seed companies What is GM food?

Triggering an allergic reaction In , researchers found that when an allergenic Brazil nut gene was transferred into a soybean, the allergenicity from the Brazil nuts was transferred too. Outcrossing of genes Genes from GM plants can unintentionally escape into other crops or into related species in the wild. New diseases could emerge Bacteria and viruses are sometimes used in gene modification, and some people believe this could lead to new pathogens. Gene transfer of antibiotic resistance Although the probability is low, gene transfer from GM foods into bacteria in our gut, or cells in our body, could occur.

What GM foods are available in Australia? Many of the processed foods in our stores include imported GM ingredients. The main sources of GM foods in Australia GM ingredient Foods they are commonly found in Imported GM soya Potato chips, margarine, mayonnaise, crackers, soy tofu, soy milk, soy flour, soy lecithin, soybean oil, pastries, chocolate.

Imported GM corn Corn chips, corn oil, corn flour, corn syrup. Corn foods with the kernel. Processed corn starch is a sweetener in drinks, sweets, bread, cakes, breakfast cereal, sauces, gravy mixes and syrups.

Imported GM sugar beet Can be used to produce sugar used in processed foods. Cottonseed oil from GM cotton Used for frying in the food industry e. Imported GM potatoes Potatoes in snack foods, processed potato products and other processed food. GM canola Fried foods, baked products and snack food. This includes corn syrup, cottonseed and canola oil. GM food additives or processing aids. Meat, dairy and eggs from animals fed GM feedstock.

Food bought from cafes, restaurants, takeaway shops and vending machines. GM flavourings in a concentration of no more than 0. However, mandatory GM food labelling is not recommended in the draft Review of Agriculture by the Productivity Commission.

What are some of the benefits of GM foods? Who assesses the safety of GM foods? Who assesses the safety of GM crops? GM crops are regulated by both the Commonwealth and state governments. How are the states involved? Do certified organic products in Australia contain GMOs? Genetically modified GM crops are plants used in agriculture that have had their DNA modified through gene technology with examples of results such as the following:.

This scheme assesses the health and environmental impacts of GM crops before they are approved for use by farmers. Products of GM organisms such as foods or medicine are regulated under a product specific scheme.