Abstract

Reference: FAO/WHO 2001a.
Title: Evaluation of Allergenicity of Genetically Modified Foods
Authors: Report of a Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultation on Allergenicity of Foods Derived from Biotechnology, 22 –25 January 2001
Publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Rome, Italy
Publication details: 2001. 27p.

A Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultation on Foods Derived from Biotechnology was held at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome from 22 to 25 January 2001. The Consultation focused on the question of allergenicity of genetically modified foods.  Its purpose was to establish a reliable methodology to assess the allergenicity of new foods produced by the recombinant DNA technique. Applying appropriate risk management measures could reduce the risk of allergenicity of genetically modified foods.

The Consultation agreed that the safety assessment of foods derived from biotechnology requires an integrated and stepwise, case-by-case approach, and that this method also be applied to the evaluation of the allergenicity of food derived from biotechnology. The Consultation emphasized that all foods derived from biotechnology must be assessed for allergenic potential.

The original decision tree from the FAO/WHO 2000 Consultation served as a basis for this consultation. The Consultation concurred that this decision tree be modified as a consequence of more recent research and which is reflected in the FAO/WHO 2001 decision tree. A comparison of the two decision trees is attached. The consultation recommended that the FAO/WHO 2001 decision tree be used for determining the allergenicity of foods derived from biotechnology.

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