Genetically modified Tudou 2.0 FDA released

Original title: the FDA approves the listing of the second generation genetically modified potatoes

The US Food and Drug Administration approved the listing of the second generation of genetically modified potatoes on the 13th, believing that there is no substantial difference in composition and safety between this kind of potato developed by Simplot and ordinary potatoes and their products on the market.

Simplot, based in Idaho, said in a statement on the same day that the FDA approved the company's "Innate" brand second-generation genetically modified potato "Brown Burbank" variety. The main feature of this potato is its resistance to late blight.

Late blight is a fungal disease, also known as potato "plague". When the disease occurs seriously, it will lead to mildew and rot of potatoes and even no harvest. Genetically modified potatoes resistant to late blight can reduce fungicide use by 25% to 40%.

The sugar content of the second generation of transgenic potatoes is also reduced and can be stored at a temperature of about 3 degrees Celsius for up to 6 months.

At the same time, it also has two advantages of the first generation of genetically modified potatoes, preventing blackening due to skin abrasions and significantly reducing the production of acrylamide during cooking. Acrylamide is considered to be a potential carcinogen.

Simplot said that if the "brown Burbank" potatoes in the United States have the above four characteristics, then potato planting, transportation, processing and other links will greatly save costs.

The cultivation and listing of genetically modified potatoes in the United States need to be approved by different agencies, such as the Ministry of Agriculture, the Drug Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency and so on. The second generation of Simplot's Brown Burbank genetically modified potatoes needs to be approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The USDA gave the green light to launch the potato in August 2015.

At the same time, the United States Department of Agriculture announced on the 13th that it had approved the launch of genetically modified potatoes with the brand "Innate" and "Snowden". This variety of genetically modified potatoes is characterized by black spot protection, low sugar content and low acrylamide production.

Simplot is famous for inventing frozen French fries 60 years ago and is a supplier to fast-food companies such as McDonald's. But McDonald's has previously said it will not use Simplot's genetically modified potatoes.

The United States is the world's largest producer of genetically modified crops, including corn, soybean, cotton, rape, sugar beet, alfalfa, papaya and pumpkin, among which cotton, soybean and corn are the most widely planted. (reporter Lin Xiaochun)