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Tracking genetically modified (GM) rice ingredients in samples of packed rice and food products from the marketplace in India: a pilot study for regulatory compliance

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Abstract

Purpose

More than 20 genetically modified (GM) food crops including rice have been approved in many countries. GM rice and derived products have not yet been approved in India so they are considered as unauthorized genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the country. Therefore it is important to track whether the rice containing food items, available in the marketplace are GMO-free.

Methods

A pilot study was conducted to check the GM status of 30 samples of packed rice grains and processed food products with rice as an ingredient, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays targeting Cauliflower Mosaic Virus 35 S promoter (P-35 S), nopaline synthase terminator (T-nos), phosphinothricin-N-acetyltransferase (pat) and cry1Ac gene, which could cover screening for all the globally approved GM rice events.

Results

Based on the results, none of the samples tested were found positive for P-35 S, T-nos, pat and cry1Ac.

Conclusion

The unauthorized presence of GM rice ingredients was not detected in the samples tested. Such studies may further be conducted for the testing of GM ingredients derived from cereals other than rice in the food products imported from the country where GM events of respective cereal crop are approved, as a part of regulatory requirement.

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Acknowledgements

The authors duly acknowledge the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi, Director, ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi, and Head, Division of Genomic Resources for providing necessary facilities. Grant provided by ICAR and Department of Biotechnology is duly acknowledged.

Funding

ICAR and Department of Biotechnology.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Uma Bharti and Priyanshi Gaur contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Genomic Resources, ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, Pusa Campus, New Delhi, 110 012, India

    Uma Bharti, Priyanshi Gaur, Kushaldeep Kaur & Monika Singh

  2. Department of Molecular and Cellular Engineering, Jacob Institute of Biotechnology and Bio-Engineering, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, 211 007, India

    Uma Bharti & Priyanshi Gaur

Authors
  1. Uma Bharti
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  2. Priyanshi Gaur
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  4. Monika Singh
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Contributions

U.B. conducted studies for GMO testing of packed rice samples; P.G.: conducted studies for GMO testing of processed food products/ samples; K.K.: verification of GMO test results; M.S.: conceptualization and planning of the work, technical supervision, writing the original draft, formal analysis and interpretation of findings.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Monika Singh.

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Bharti, U., Gaur, P., Kaur, K. et al. Tracking genetically modified (GM) rice ingredients in samples of packed rice and food products from the marketplace in India: a pilot study for regulatory compliance. J Environ Health Sci Engineer (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40201-024-00892-3

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