Allergenicity assessment of genetically modified crops--what makes sense?

Nat Biotechnol. 2008 Jan;26(1):73-81. doi: 10.1038/nbt1343.

Abstract

GM crops have great potential to improve food quality, increase harvest yields and decrease dependency on certain chemical pesticides. Before entering the market their safety needs to be scrutinized. This includes a detailed analysis of allergenic risks, as the safety of allergic consumers has high priority. However, not all tests currently being applied to assessing allergenicity have a sound scientific basis. Recent events with transgenic crops reveal the fallacy of applying such tests to GM crops.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Consumer Product Safety
  • Food Analysis / methods*
  • Food Hypersensitivity / etiology*
  • Food Hypersensitivity / immunology
  • Food Hypersensitivity / prevention & control*
  • Food, Genetically Modified / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / adverse effects*
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / immunology
  • Risk Assessment / methods*
  • Risk Factors