G03025: Quantitation Using Informative Zeros (QUIZ): proof of concept
Friday 9 February 2029
This initial proof of concept study is designed to demonstrate the potential of Quantitation Using Informative Zeros (QUIZ) as a high-throughput methodology to measure Genetically Modified (GM) presence in food.
Study Duration: November 2006 to January 2007
Contractor: National Institute of Agricultural Botany (NIAB)
Background
The Food Standards Agency is the competent authority for the Genetically Modified (GM) Food and Feed Regulation (EC) 1829/2003 which lays down labelling requirements; any food or feed product containing a GM ingredient must declare this on the label. A threshold of 0.9% is in place for the adventitious and technically unavoidable presence of GM material below which labelling is not required. Unauthorised GM food or feed is not permitted at any level.
To determine whether the labelling regulations are working in practice it is necessary for GM DNA detection methods in foods to be available using robust methodologies. This study seeks to demonstrate the potential of a new approach to DNA detection of GM material in food. Ultimately this may provide a method that is more accessible to Public Analysts for enforcement work.
Research Approach
This experiment has been designed to demonstrate the utility of Quantitation Using Informative Zeros (QUIZ) for measuring GM content of food related products. This project is the development of a high throughput method for robust and sensitive quantitation of relative amounts of Genetically modified organisms (GMO) to non-GMO DNA in a food sample.
A set of defined material will be made by mixing two certified reference materials containing GM RoundUp Ready� soya (0 and 5%). Samples will be produced to contain approximately 0, 0.5, 1, 3 and 5% based on the declared GMO content. DNA will be extracted from the samples; then the purified DNA will be quantified and appropriate dilutions used to QUIZ the GMO content of each sample. QUIZ must demonstrate a linear relationship between the estimated GMO content and the proportion of 5% RoundUp Ready� soya in the samples.