Sydney, Nov 21: The global furore over genetically modified food is opening a technology race to produce portable mini-labs which diners could take on that big night out. A simple dipstick test for GM food remains elusive. But personal ``micro-arrays,'' perhaps nestling between candles on the restaurant table, could check if one's gonococci are GM-free. ``Your micro-array or mine? '' might be the New Age mantra. Micro-arrays are mainly a biological slide-reaction test for bacteria - the word ``array '' refers to the test readings -- that can also be used for GM material.Commercial production is some way away but consumer pressure for GM food labelling is winning the day over scientific scepticism about the validity or need for GM tests. Serious battle lines are being drawn over whether GM content can be accurately measured to underpin labelling laws. Australian and New Zealand health ministers met last month to consider strict laws requiring labelling of food containing even a trace of GM.
Pummelled byclaim and counter-claim, the ministers considered label thresholds, costs, ethics and commercial implications for export markets. Then they shelved an immediate decision when faced with a barrage of faxes from US company Genetic ID, which claimed it could make exact GM measurements. Founded by John Fagan, professor of Molecular Biology at Maharishi University, Genetic ID is typical of the GM maze.
--REUTER
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.