No abstract

The present study was carried out to ascertain the genetic status of soybean and maize crops introduced in Algeria and to test local and imported products containing maize and soybean for the presence of genetically modified organisms (GMO into the food and feed chain). Samples from crops and processed food products were selected, randomly sampled and screened by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of the 35S cauliflower mosaic virus promoter (P35S CaMV) and the Agrobacterium tumefaciens nopaline synthase (nos) terminator, commonly found in transgene cassettes. Results showed that GMOs were absent in all crop samples, but present in 29 food and feed samples. These analyses are discussed for the efficiency of the Algerian regulation and the absence of labelling and traceability mechanisms within the country.