EFSA Supports European Commission with Scientific Advice on Safety of Maize MON810 Pollen

The EFSA GMO Panel considered the safety of maize MON810 pollen[1] both in food, for example when present in honey, and as food, when pollen is consumed directly.

Oct 25 2011 --- The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) was asked to give a rapid response to a request for scientific advice on the safety of pollen produced by genetically modified maize MON810. EFSA’s Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO Panel) adopted a statement which will be presented to the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCFCAH) on 24 October 2011 to assist the European Commission and Member States with their discussion on this subject.

The EFSA GMO Panel considered the safety of maize MON810 pollen[1] both in food, for example when present in honey, and as food, when pollen is consumed directly. The Panel previously concluded that maize MON810 is as safe as non-GM maize and therefore advises that it is unlikely that pollen derived from MON810 would raise specific concerns as a result of the genetic modification.

[1] MON810 pollen comprises the Cry1Ab protein. The GMO Panel first assessed the safety of this protein and concluded that its previous findings, carried out as part of its 2009 risk assessment on maize MON810, apply (EFSA 2009).