Short Communication Detection of genetically modified material in feed and foodstuffs containing soy and maize in Jordan Saqer M. Herzallah Department of Food Science, Mu’tah University, Karak 61710, Jordan 1. Introduction Genetic modifications (GMs) are used to increase crops resistance against pests and diseases, and to improve flavour and ripening quality. Numerous GM food products (>144) are licenced and commercially distributed worldwide (Do ¨ rries et al., 2010; Michelini et al., 2008; Marmiroli et al., 2008). These GM foods are subject to regulations, and food authorities must detect GM in foods in order to comply with food distribution regulations of labelling foods with GM > 0.9% set by the European Union. Labelling of food containing GM material or genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is thus a requirement, and could be considered as an early-warning predictor for health and food safety in terms of national food security issues (Marvin et al., 2009; Kuribara et al., 2002; Shindo et al., 2002; Korea, 2000; Japan, 2000; Brazil, 2003; Hurst et al., 1999). Food labelling legislation and regulations to control the distribution and consumption of GM foods require GMO detection using a reliable precise DNA method (Song et al., 2007). For example, PCR and Rt-PCR are used for qualitative and quantitative detection and for monitoring the presence of GM materials in food items and animal feeds. Grains and grain-containing products are considered major staple food items, and there is urgent demand to increase production using GM technology, regardless of consumers’ concerns. Thus, detection of GM materials in grains and grain-containing products through DNA analyses using real-time polymerase chain reaction (Rt-PCR) is of interest to researchers to monitor the influx of GM containing foods and feeds into local markets (Meyer et al., 1996; Hupfer et al., 1998; Elenis et al., 2008; Xu et al., 2007; Do ¨ rries et al., 2010). The specific GM elements in raw or processed foods are mostly P-35S, T-NOS, Roundup Ready TM (RR) soybean, maize MON 810, maize Bt-176, maize GA21, and maize NK603. The GM regulation limits are traced by Rt-PCR using gene markers specific for detection of GM material in more than 33 commercially approved GM positive food or feed products sold within the EU countries (Meyer et al., 1996; Studer et al., 1998; EC, 2003). GM labelling laws in response to many countries’ threshold legislation are required to ensure commercial food safety and quality. These laws stipulate that GM containing foods above 1% must be clearly labelled (Busch et al., 2001; Dinon et al., 2010, 2008; Hamels et al., 2009; Brazil, 2003; EC, 49/2000, 1139/1998, 258/97; Robinson, 1999). The objective of this study was thus to screen GM materials in food and feed products containing maize or soy and commercially available in the Jordanian market in 2007 and 2008. 2. Materials and methods 2.1. Materials A total of 280 food and feed samples (100 breakfast cereals, 60 pasta, 20 chips, 15 bakery products, 35 corn flour and 50 feed Journal of Food Composition and Analysis 26 (2012) 169–172 A R T I C L E I N F O Article history: Received 5 July 2011 Received in revised form 29 December 2011 Accepted 28 January 2012 Keywords: Genetic modification GM Bt176 Roundup Ready TM soybean 35S Rt-PCR Food analysis Food safety GM labelling A B S T R A C T Food and feed products with genetically modified (GM) materials are not subject to labelling regulations in Jordan. The number of GM foods being developed to cope with growing food demand, locally and internationally, is growing. This situation may result in more consumer requests for traceability and assurance of food quality and safety with respect to GM foods. To this end, the main aim of this study was to investigate at what level Jordanian consumers are exposed to GM foods. DNA was extracted from 200 food and 80 feed samples bought in Jordanian markets, screened by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and quantified by real-time PCR. The GM screening and quantification were based on the presence of Roundup Ready TM (RR) soybean, Bt 176 or 35S target sequence genes for the GM elements. GM positive samples were quantified by real-time PCR. Fifteen food and feed samples were found positive for maize Bt-176 or RR soybean genes, representing 5.4% of the total food tested samples. The GM elements were detected in more than 62.5% with less than 1% modification, compared to less than 37.5% containing more than 1% GM. ß 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. E-mail address: saqermay30@yahoo.com. Contents lists available at SciVerse ScienceDirect Journal of Food Composition and Analysis jo u rn al ho m epag e: ww w.els evier .c om /lo cat e/jfc a 0889-1575/$ – see front matter ß 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.jfca.2012.01.007