Mar 13, 2010 | 3:14 pm

Maize MON88017

Summary of risk assessment

Opinion of the scientific panel on genetically modified organisms (GMO Panel) of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
Adopted 04/21/2009
Conclusion MON88017 maize is as safe as conventional maize, and releasing MON88017 for processing and food and feed use is unlikely to cause adverse effects on human health and the environment.

 

Comparative analysis
Basis of comparsion Conventional maize cultivars LH198 x XLH198 and DKC61-24.
Qualities of the plant Several parameters were compared such as field traits (stress resistance), dormancy and germination, vegetative and reproductive growth.
No biologically significant changes were observed.
Compositional analysis The following were investigated (forage and grain): the proportion and composition of carbohydrates, protein, fibre characteristics, moisture, oil content, amino acids, fatty acids, minerals, vitamins and plant secondary metabolites.
No biologically significant changes were observed.

 

Safety of food and feed
New proteins
(CRY3Bb1, CP4 EPSPS)		 No correspondence with known toxins.

No indications of adverse effects related to the exposure to the CRY3Bb1 protein or the CP4 EPSPS protein were found in studies on acute oral toxicity in mice. There were no adverse effects in a 90-day feeding study with rats fed diets including kernels from maize MON89034.

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

The protein is rapidly broken down by intestinal fluid.

Assessment for food and feed A 42 day feeding study was conducted on broiler chicken fed transgenic maize. Several clinical, biochemical, and histological paramters were compared with control groups that were fed conventional maize.
No negative health effects could be attributed to MON88017 maize.
Nutritional equivalence Feeding studies on chickens fed a diet consisting of MON88017 maize flour did not report negative effects.

 

Enviromental safety
Survivebility Maize is highly domesticated and is not viable outside of cultivation.
Out-crossing Maize has no cross-compatible wild relatives in Europe. Out-crossing is only possible with maize in neighbouring fields.
Field trials Evaluation of field trails in the USA (2002), Argentina (2003-2004), and EU (2007).