May 22, 2012 | 3:55 pm

Maize 59122

Summary of risk assessment

Opinion of the scientific panel on genetically modified organisms (GMO Panel) of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
Adopted 23/03/2006
Conclusion 59122 maize is as safe as conventional maize, and releasing 59122 for processing and food and feed use is unlikely to cause adverse effects on human health and the environment.

 

Comparative study
Basis of comparison Conventional counterpart (isogenic line)
Qualities Several parameters were compared, including: agronomic traits, seed size, and external features.
Compositional analysis Several parameters were compared, including: nutritients (proteins content, lipids, carbohydrates), minerals and fibre compositions. No differences were observed.

Maize kernels were analysed on the basis of: various fatty acids, amino acids, minerals (calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and zinc), vitamins (B1, B2, E, folic acid, beta-carotine), other metabolites and undesired substances (e.g. trypsin inhibitors) were measured.
No biologically significant differences were observed.

 

Safety of food and feed
New proteins
(CRY34AB1, CRY35AB1 +PAT))		 No correspondence to known toxins.

Toxicity tests were conducted on mice: No negative health effects resulting from the novel proteins were observed.

Allergenicity of the new protein(s) No correspondence with known allergens (amino acid sequence comparison).

There are no known cases of allergies to maize or to the newly introduced proteins. Therefore, it is considered highly unlikely that this GM maize could cause allergies.

Assessment for food and feed A 28 day feeding study was conducted on mice. Factors such as mortality, bodyweight, and feeding were observed:
No statistically significant differences were found between test groups fed GM maize and control groups fed conventional maize.

In addition, a 90 day feeding study was conducted on rats. One test group was fed exclusively kernels form GM maize. A second group was fed with a diet from the conventional counterpart. Both groups were carefully studied by conducting blood tests and analysing urine, bodyweight, neurobehavioural assessment, and mortality:
No biologically significant differences were observed.

Nutritional assessment A 42 day feeding study was conducted on chickens.

The data for the nutritionally comparable were observed by measuring mortality, weight gain, and feed efficiency.
No statistically significant differences were found between test groups fed GM maize and control groups fed conventional maize.

 

Enviromental safety
Survivebility Maize is highly domesticated and is not viable outside of cultivation.

59122 maize does not interact with the environment any differently than its conventional counterpart. (out-crossing, escaping cultivation)

Out-crossing Maize has no cross-compatible wild relatives in Europe. Out-crossingis only possible with maize plants on neighboring fields.
Field trails Evaluation of field trails in Chile, USA, Canada, Bulgaria, and Spain during the season 2002-2004.