GM Papaya

Are Transgenic Papayas Safe to Eat?

Plant viruses are everywhere and are ingested by humans as a normal part of their daily diet of fruits and vegetables. Plant viruses have not been known to infect humans or animals. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) needed to address the following questions before giving its approval.

• Does the host species have a history of safe use?
• Do characteristics of host species, related species, or progenitor lines warrant analytical or toxicological tests?
• Is the concentration and bioavailability of important nutrients in the transgenic organism within the range ordinarily seen in the host species? In other words, are they substantially equivalent?
• Is food from the donor commonly allergenic?
• Do characteristics of the donor species, related species, or progenitor lines warrant toxicological tests?
• Is the newly introduced protein present in food derived from the plant?
• Is the protein derived from a food source or similar to an edible protein?
• Is food from the donor commonly allergenic? Is the introduced protein reported to be toxic?
• Will the intake of the donor protein in the transgenic organism be generally comparable to the intake of the same or similar protein in donor or other food?
• Is the introduced protein likely to be a macro constituent in the human or animal diet?

The FDA concluded that transgenic papayas are not materially different in composition, safety, or other relevant parameters from papaya varieties currently on the market. Approval was obtained on 19 September 1997.

Source: ISAAA Briefs 11-1999

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Summary Report on the Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops - [View the 2004 report]

Transgenic Crops - [Click Here]

Extensive Study on Bt Cotton - [Click Here]

Download the complete copy of the ISAAA Briefs on Global Status/Review of GM Crops - [Click Here]

SciDev.Net's dossier on GM crops - [Click here]

Global Status of Approved Genetically Modified Plants -  [Click here]

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