Genetically Modified Labeling Policies: Moving Forward or Backward?

One of the priorities to address food security is to increase the access of farmers to biotechnology, through the application of scientific advances, such as genetically modified organisms and food (GMF). However, the spread of (mis)information about their safety strengthens the clamor for mandatory GMF labeling. This paper provides an overview of food labeling policies, considering the principles suggested by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, and analyzes the consequences for the world food security of the Brazilian labeling policies compared to developed countries.

A Study of Stakeholder Views to Shape a Communication Strategy for GMO in Brazil.

This paper analyzes the view of stakeholders on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and the implications of these views on communication strategies for agricultural biotechnology in Brazil. It identifies and describes common groups of attitudes toward GMOs using multivariate statistical analyses. The study then looks for patterns of association between the common attitude groups and the following variables: socioeconomic characteristics trust in institutions as information sources and familiarity with the Brazilian biosafety authority.

RE-PCR variability and toxigenic profile of food poisoning, foodborne and soil-associated Bacillus cereus isolates from Brazil.

Twenty-three Bacillus cereus isolates from food poisoning outbreaks associated with a diarrheal-type syndrome, fourteen foodborne isolates not associated with food poisoning and fifteen isolates from Brazilian soil samples were analyzed for the presence and genetic diversity (by RE-PCR) of the virulence genes ces (emetic toxin, cereulide), plcR-papR (pleiotropic regulator PlcR and peptide PapR), nheA (a component of the NHE complex), bceT (diarrheal enterotoxin bc-D-ENT), gyrB (B subunit of DNA gyrase), cytK-2 (necrotic enterotoxin cytotoxin K-2), and plcA (phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C). Additionally, these isolates were phenotypically characterized for motility, hemolytic and lecithinase activities, as well as HBL enterotoxin production. The group of isolates associated with food poisoning had the highest occurrence of the phenotypically analyzed factors and the most frequent occurrence and highest genetic diversity of the plcR-papR, nheA, bceT, cytK-2, plcA, and gyrB genes.

Evaluation of a new formulation of Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis.

The aim of this study was to determine the potency (ITU) and efficacy of a liquid formulation of Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis developed by the State University of Londrina named BioUel, against early fourth instar larvae of Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus. The ITU/mg of BioUel was 960, the LC₅₀ was of 0.271 (± 0.