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Kernel lot distribution assessment (KeLDA): a study on the distribution of GMO in large soybean shipments

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Abstract

The reliability of analytical testing is strongly affected by sampling uncertainty. Sampling is always a source of error and the aim of “good” sampling practice is to minimize this error. Generally the distribution of genetically modified (GM) material within lots is assumed to be random in order to use binomial distribution to make inferences. This assumption was never verified in practice and no experimental data investigating the distribution of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) exist. The objectives of the KeLDA project were: (1) to assess the distribution of GM material in soybean lots (2) to estimate the amount of variability of distribution patterns among lots. The GM content of 15 soybean lots imported into the EU was estimated (using real-time PCR methodology) analyzing 100 increment samples systematically sampled from each lot at predetermined time intervals during the whole period of off-loading. The distribution of GM material was inferred by the one-dimensional (temporal) distribution of contaminated increments. All the lots display significant spatial structuring, indicating that randomness cannot be assumed a priori. The evidence that the distribution of GM material is heterogeneous highlights the need to develop sampling protocols based on statistical models free of distribution requirements.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank all those who have contributed to the KeLDA project, which was financed by the participating institutions. We are particularly grateful to Professor Kim Esbensen for the many useful discussions and for reviewing a previous version of the manuscript. Thanks to Szilard Szilagyi and Greta Van Neyen for their help preparing the samples.

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Author notes

  1. Claudia Paoletti

    Present address: European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Largo N. Palli 5/A, 43100, Parma, Italy

Authors and Affiliations

  1. European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Health and Consumer Protection (IHCP), Biotechnology and GMOs Unit, TP 331, 21020, Ispra (VA), Italy

    Claudia Paoletti, Marco Mazzara, Sara Larcher, Emanuele Grazioli & Guy Van den Eede

  2. Umweltbundesamt GmbH, Spittelauer Laende 5, 1090, Wien, Austria

    Andreas Heissenberger

  3. European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM), Retieseweg 111, 2400, Geel, Belgium

    Philippe Corbisier

  4. Behörde für Umwelt und Gesundheit, Marckmannstr, 129b, 20539, Hamburg, Germany

    Norbert Hess

  5. The Walloon Agricultural Research Centre (CRA-W), Department Quality of Agricultural Products, Chaussée de Namur 24, 5030, Gembloux, Belgium

    Gilbert Berben

  6. Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, The Danish Plant Directorate, Skovbrynet 20, 2800, Lyngby, Denmark

    Peter S. Lübeck

  7. CLO/DVP, Caritasstraat 21, 9090, Melle, Belgium

    Marc De Loose

  8. Scottish Agricultural Science Agency, 82 Craigs Rd, East Craigs, Edinburgh, EH12 8NJ,, UK

    Gillian Moran

  9. Central Science Laboratory, Sand Hutton, York YO4 1LZ,, UK

    Christine Henry

  10. Italian National Institute for Health, National Centre for Food Quality and Risk Assessment, GMO and Mycotoxin Unit, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161, Rome, Italy

    Carlo Brera

  11. IRTA Gen, Ctra. de Cabrils s/n-08348 Cabrils, Barcelona, Spain

    Imma Folch

  12. Research Institute of Crop Production, Drnouska 507, Prague 6, 16106, Ruzyne, Czech Republic

    Jaroslava Ovesna

Authors
  1. Claudia Paoletti
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  2. Andreas Heissenberger
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  3. Marco Mazzara
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  4. Sara Larcher
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  5. Emanuele Grazioli
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  6. Philippe Corbisier
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  7. Norbert Hess
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  8. Gilbert Berben
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  9. Peter S. Lübeck
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  10. Marc De Loose
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  11. Gillian Moran
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  12. Christine Henry
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  13. Carlo Brera
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  14. Imma Folch
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  15. Jaroslava Ovesna
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  16. Guy Van den Eede
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Claudia Paoletti.

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Paoletti, C., Heissenberger, A., Mazzara, M. et al. Kernel lot distribution assessment (KeLDA): a study on the distribution of GMO in large soybean shipments. Eur Food Res Technol 224, 129–139 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00217-006-0299-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00217-006-0299-8

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