Background: Some members of the general public have expressed concern that tDNA and their gene products might accumulate in milk, meat and egg derived from animals receiving diets containing GM feed ingredients. This view was expressed even though the World Health Organisation has concluded that there is no inherent risk to human health in consuming DNA including that from GM food as we have all consumed DNA from a wide range of sources.

A Study at Reading

Nevertheless at The University of Reading we undertook a study in which two groups of lactating cows received a diet in which the concentrate component contained either GM soyabean meal (cp4epsps gene) and ground GM maize grain (cry1a(b) gene) or their near isogenic non-GM counterpart. Milk samples were taken prior to the start of the study and twice during the 12-week experimental feeding period. These samples were analysed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), to determine if GM DNA fragments could be detected in the milk. The PCR analysis was capable of detecting GM DNA fragments greater than or equal to 200 base pairs in length. The results showed that GM DNA could not be detected in milk (limit of detection 7.5 µg/l of milk) from cows receiving 18.5% of their diet DM as insect protected (MON 810) maize grain.

This work has been published as:

1. R.H. Phipps and D.E. Beever (2002). Detection of transgenic DNA in milk from cows receiving herbicide tolerant (CP4EPSPS) soyabean meal. Livestock Production Science 74, 269-273

2. Phipps, R.H., D.E. Beever, and A.P. Tingey (2001), Detection of transgenic DNA in bovine milk: Results for cows receiving a TMR containing Bt insect protected maize grain (cry1a(b). Abstract presented at the International Animal Agriculture and Food Science Conference held at Indianapolis USA July 24-28 2001.Abstract 476.

This study supports and confirms earlier work, which has shown that to date neither tDNA nor their gene products have been found in milk, meat or eggs derived from animals receiving diets containing GM feed ingredients.

Supporting references, which all show that neither tDNA noer their gene products have been detected in milk, meat and eggs produced from animals receiving GM feed ingredients.

1. Aeschbacher, K., L. Meile, R. Messikommer, and Wenk, C. 2001. Genetically modified maize in diets for chickens and laying hens: influence on performance and product quality. Proc: International Symposium on Genetically Modified Crops and Co-products as Feeds for Livestock, 41-42. Nitra, Slovak Republic.

2. Ash, J.A., Scheideler, S.E. and Novak, C.L. (2000). The fate of genetically modified protein from Roundup Ready soybeans in the laying hen. Poultry Science, Suppl. 1, p26

3. Einspanier, R., Klotz, A., Kraft, J., Aulrich, K., Poser, R., Schwagele, F., Jahreis, G. and Flachowsky, G. 2001. The fate of forage plant DNA in farm animals: a collaborative case-study investigating cattle and chicken fed recombinant plant material. European Food Research and Technology 212: 129-134

4. Faust, M.A. 2000. Livestock Products: composition and detection of transgenic DNA/protein. Pro. Symposium Agri. Biotech Market. ADAS-ASAS. ED Baltimore. Md. USA. pp 29.

5. Japan MAFF. 2000. No traces of modified DNA in poultry fed on GM corn. Nature 409: 657

6. Khumnirdpetch, V., Udormsri Intarchote, A., Treemanee, S., Tragoonroong, S. and Thummabood, S. (2001). Detection of GMOs in the broilers that utilised genetically modified soyabean meals as a feed ingredient. Plant and Animal Genome IX conf., San Diego, p585.

7. Klotz, A., J. Meyer, and R. Einspanier. 2002. Degradation and possible carry over effects of feed DNA monitored in pigs and poultry. European Food Research and Technology 214: 271-275.

8. Weber, T.E. and B.T. Richert. 2001. Grower-finisher growth performance and carcass characteristics including attempts to detect transgenic plant DNA and protein in muscle from pigs fed genetically modified "Bt" corn. J. Anim. Sci. 79 (Suppl. 2) pp. 67 Abstract 162.

Dr R H Phipps
The University of Reading, Reading, UK