Genetically Modified Foods

This issue of The World of Food Science provides an update on several aspects of genetically modified (GM) or genetically engineered foods, a topic that still creates some controversy among some consumers and for some governments. Eight papers and reports are provided on:

• GM foods in Africa (Aworh)

• GM plants (Guertler and Busch)

• Brazil GMO regulatory scenario (Souza)

• Colombia GMO adoption (Jaramillo and Castano, in Spanish with English abstract)

• Biotechnology (Ahrne)

• South African GM food safety (Gouws and Groenewald)

• GM stories (SAAFoST)

• GMOs perception (Tamayo, in Spanish with English abstract).

Other features of this volume include:

• Focus article:

o Donna Cawthorn and Louw Hoffman discuss meat substitution in South Africa

• Food Security Update: Charles Aworh discusses promoting food security by value-added processing of indigenous fruits; the work of the World Food Prize Laureates for 2013 are outlined; and George Abong briefly reports on a UNEP conference in Kenya.

• Association News: Alastair Hicks reports on progress with formation of food science and technology associations in Myanmar and Cambodia; and we reproduce an ISFE interview with food engineer Walter Spiess

• International Regulatory Update: Alan Randell reports on the Codex 50th anniversary; and John Lupien reports on the 45th CCFA meeting.

• Calendar of Events: an update of forthcoming conferences and events in food science and technology throughout the globe.

Comments are welcome: contact Ken Buckle (k.buckle@unsw.edu.au) or IUFoST (secretariat@iufost.org) with contributions or suggestions.

The next volume will cover aspects of Nanotechnology and Foods.