How is the concept of substantial equivalence used as part of the safety assessment process? Why is DNA not included in the assessment of substantial equivalence?
The use of the concept of substantial equivalence as part of the safety assessment process has been questioned on the premise that differences at the DNA level make foods substantially different. Answer The comparative approach, previously referred to as substantial equivalence, embodies the concept that GM foods can be assessed to a large extent by comparison to the benchmark of commonly consumed foods already regarded as safe (the traditional or non-modified counterpart) (WHO 2000). The comparison is usually made at the level of the composition of the food. This allows the safety assessment to focus on any significant differences between the GM food and its conventionally produced counterpart. Phenotypic differences are not normally considered in the comparison, if that difference does not significantly change the characteristics for composition of the new food relative to the conventional food. This is partly because differences in phenotype can occur with every breeding event and o
