Are biotechnology crops, or products derived from them, as safe as similar crops derived from plant breeding?
The safety of biotechnology crops and their products must be established before DuPont will market the product. Certain crop plants, such as potatoes, produce natural toxins. Before commercializing a biotechnology crop, we conduct tests that identify whether changes have taken place that may affect food safety. In addition, we provide testing results on the protein produced by the new gene evaluate its safety. In April 2000, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences released a report stating, “The committee is not aware of any evidence that foods on the market are unsafe to eat as a result of genetic modification.” Finally, regulatory officials in the U.S. and several other countries have determined that current biotechnology crops on the market are as safe as their conventional counterparts.
