中McDonald’s scandal draws attention to GM livestock feed

[File photo/China News Service]

(ECNS) – If you're dining at a McDonald's in a European country, it's possible that the nuggets and chicken sandwiches you're eating contain genetically modified ingredients.

According to a German media report, McDonald's has admitted to using chickens raised on genetically modified feed, breaking a promise the fast food giant made in 2001 that it would never use genetically modified livestock feed in the European market.

McDonald's attributed the change to a shortage of affordable non-GM fodder, and said that it wouldn't affect food quality and safety.

The incident has drawn public attention to genetically modified feed for animals amid concerns about the effects of genetically modified food on humans.

Renmin University professor Zheng Fengtian said China hasn't given the green light to genetically modified fodder, but that it's being used throughout much of the country anyway.

China Agricultural University professor Luo Yunbo told the First Financial Daily that most poultry feeds in China, mainly made of soybeans and corn, are genetically modified, and that they are almost never labeled as such.

Wu Qifeng, a general manager who's been selling livestock feed for over 20 years, said no buyer has ever asked whether the feed is genetically modified, and no one has required any labeling.

Since 2001, the government has issued several regulations requiring labeling for the seeds of soybeans, corn, rapeseed flowers, cotton, tomatoes, and 17 "directly processed" products if they are genetically modified.

Luo said these regulations target "final" products, and livestock feed is not considered a final product for consumers.

McDonald's China hasn't responded to questions of whether genetically modified fodder is also used in China.

The WTO said recently that genetically modified fodder doesn't threaten the safety of meat, milk and eggs.

Professor Zheng said that eating such chicken won't cause serious consequences, but he doesn't suggest daily intake.