According to Kyodo News, Japan plans to expand the scope of required labelling for food products that contain genetically modified organisms (GMO) following a recall of snack products with an unapproved gene-altered potato variety, government officials said on June 19. Calbee Foods Co., a Japanese food company, recalled its potato snacks after test found unapproved genetically modified ingredients in them. The firm had obtained certification from trading houses and other suppliers that the ingredients they supplied did not contain GM material. But even this precaution failed, so Calbee plans to start inspecting ingredients itself rather than leave the task to suppliers. The same unwanted GM ingredient, a type of potato called New Leaf Plus, was found late last month in another snack produced by House Foods Corp. It was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and is widely used there, but has not been approved in Japan. Other firms are also intensifying checks to prevent GM ingredients finding their way into products, but many analysts say doing so will be difficult. The US FDA has already approved 51 GM food products, while the Japanese government has approved 35. Processed GM potatoes need not be labelled as such in Japan, but the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is likely to revise labelling requirements to cover them. Source: Nikkei News, Kyodo News
