The survey of genetically modified foods on the Hungarian market, with method development and adaptation*

Official Control of the Genetically Modified Foodsin Hungary

„Fodor József” National Center for Public Health NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD HYGIENE AND

NUTRITION

* There were only a few similar surveys performed in the EU.

The INSTITUTE …

„Fodor József” National Center for Public Health

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD HYGIENE AND NUTRITION

Director:

Dr. Imre Rodler

Fodor József” National Center for Public Health NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD HYGIENE AND NUTRITION

Department of Food Additives and Chemical Contaminants

Department of Food Chemical Analysis

Department of Nutrition Hygiene

Department of Food Microbiology

Division of Food Additives and Packaging Additives

Division of Chemical Contaminants

Veterinary Drug Residues Group

 Cosmetic Group

Division of Food Product Registration

Division of Metal Analysis and Lipid

Division of Protein and Vitamin

Division of Public Nutrition and Therapeatic Nutr.

Division of Nutrition Biochemistry

Division of Nutrition Physiology

Laboratory of Genetically Modified Organisms

Entomology Laboratory

Mycotoxicology Laboratory

Division of Microbiological Biochemistry

Division of Bacteriology

 

„Fodor József” National Center for Public Health

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD HYGIENE AND NUTRITION

participates in the preparation of legistlation, with especial regard to the determination

of maximum residue limits for foods;regularly supervises the food microbiological and chemical limits and makes

proposal for their amendment;performs the comprehensive microbiological, GMO, chemical, toxicological

and parasitological laboratory analysis of foods.performs licencing activity with regard to foods meeting particular

nutritional demands, nutriments, new food additives, new food packaging materials and

cosmetics, and authorizes the use of cleaning agents and disinfectants in food industry;issues certficates attesting that imported foods to be put on the market

conform to the public health requirements;issues expert opinion for the manufacture of so-called new foods and foods

treated by irradiation, and for the licencing of veterinary medicinal products and

pesticeds;provides technical guidance and consulting to assist the work of the

NPH&MOS in the field;performs nutrition-physiological and nutritional health studies and conducts

consumer awarness campaigns.

Tasks:

„Fodor József” National Center for Public Health

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD HYGIENE AND NUTRITION

In 1998 the XXVII.Act on gene technology came into force in Hungary,

and one year later the Regulation of the Minister of Agriculture

(1/1999. (I.14.)) was published on the execution of the Act, which regulates also the labelling of GM foods. The Hungarian regulation

on GMO is conform with that of the European Union. In accordance of the Regulation 1/1999. (I.14.) a laboratory for

the official control of GM foods was established in the National Institute of Food Hygiene and Nutrition.

GMO screening and quantification is carried out in our GMO laboratory in

the case of meat products and foods from plant origin.

GMO related performance:

„Fodor József” National Center for Public Health

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD HYGIENE AND NUTRITION

Fodor József National Centre for Public Health - National Institute of Food Hygiene and Nutrition GMO Laboratory

Address: 1097 Budapest, Gyáli út 3/A Postal address: 1476 Budapest 100, P.O.Box 52

Dedicated to the official GMO control in the case of meat industry products and products of plant origin (Annex 5 of the FVM regulation No 1/1999. (I. 14.))

The GMO Laboratory …

„Fodor József” National Center for Public Health

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD HYGIENE AND NUTRITION

Instuments:GeneAmp®5700 Primus 96 plus

quantification detection

„Fodor József” National Center for Public Health

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD HYGIENE AND NUTRITION

GMO team:

Boldizsár Vajda Head of GMO Lab

Zsuzsanna BátkiBioengineer Szilvia Baranyi

Assistant

„Fodor József” National Center for Public Health

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD HYGIENE AND NUTRITION

Steps of PCR based detection:

1.    DNA isolation

2.    GMO screening – conventional PCR method, followed by

agarose-gelelectrophoresis  and

restriction digestion of the GMO-positive amplicon

3.    GMO quantification – real-time PCR method

„Fodor József” National Center for Public Health

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD HYGIENE AND NUTRITION

„Fodor József” National Center for Public Health

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD HYGIENE AND NUTRITION

Primers: Control primers:

Invertase and zein gene specific primer (in the case of MAIZE) Lectin gene specific primer (in the case of SOY) Chloroplast specific primer (for plants)

GMO specific primers: 35S promoter NOS terminator

Specific primers MON810 specific primer (for YieldGard maize) RR specific primer (for RoundupReady soybean) PG gene specific primer (for FlavrSavr tomato) Hpt gene specific primer (for GM potato)

The PROJECT* …

„Fodor József” National Center for Public Health

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD HYGIENE AND NUTRITION

In the framework of Technical Research and Development projects „BIOTECHNOLOGY 2002”

*Funded by the Ministry of Education Research and Development

Aim of the project:

„Fodor József” National Center for Public Health

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD HYGIENE AND NUTRITION

Investigate the presence of genetically modified components in foods on the Hungarian market

Determine the quantity of genetically modified components in foods on the Hungarian market

Samples:

„Fodor József” National Center for Public Health

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD HYGIENE AND NUTRITION

Type of samplesRaw materials Flour BakerySnacksDry foods PowdersMeat productsSaucesDrinksOther

Foods containingSoy (100 samples)Maize (100 samples)Soy and Maize (50 samples)Tomato (50 samples)Potato (50 samples)

GMO screen and quantification:

„Fodor József” National Center for Public Health

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD HYGIENE AND NUTRITION

Soy products

Maize products

Tomato products

Potato products

Analysis of the samples:

„Fodor József” National Center for Public Health

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD HYGIENE AND NUTRITION

Screening for:35S promoterNOS terminator

Quantification:In the case of GMO positive soy or maize

Determination of the GM trait:In the case of GMO positive samples

Expected results:

„Fodor József” National Center for Public Health

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD HYGIENE AND NUTRITION

Information about the the presence and quantity of GMOs on the market

Basis of information of consumers

Background of the activities of authorities

Reliable laboratory background of GMO control

Accredited GMO laboratory for the official control of GM foods

- THANK YOU -

„Fodor József” National Center for Public Health

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD HYGIENE AND NUTRITION

Contact person:

Dr. Boldizsár P. VajdaHead of GMO LaboratoryE-mail: vaj4616@ella.hu