Food testing news and events in brief
Eurofins develops testing method for CMS hybrids in plants
Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) is a naturally occurring trait, commonly used in hybrid seed production. In some cases the CMS trait is not transferred by traditional breeding techniques but with cytoplast fusion techniques. According to Commission Directive 2001/18/EC, these CMS hybrids are not considered to be genetically modified organisms (GMOs) if the plant species used can exchange genetic material through traditional breeding methods. Although many organic farming associations oppose CMS hybrids generated with cytoplast fusion techniques and have in the past months encouraged their members to use CMS-free seed, CMS hybrid vegetables like chicory, broccoli and cauliflower continue to be discovered in numerous organic supermarkets in Germany. Amongst others, the German BNN (National Association of Natural Food and Goods) is demanding the labelling of CMS hybrids bred with the help of cytoplast fusion techniques. With newly developed PCR testing methods for the radish-derived Ogura sequence and the sunflower-derived PET-1 sequence, Eurofins GeneScan is able to identify various CMS hybrids and their seeds with a fast and reliable turn-around-time.
Contact: UlfRathjens@eurofins.de
Twenty year anniversary of Eurofins Sofia
SOFIA GmbH was founded in Berlin in January 1993 and celebrates its twentieth anniversary this year. Within the corporate group, Eurofins SOFIA has a reputation for quick and innovative solutions in the area of pesticide analysis and the detection of contaminants. The laboratory has seen rapid development since it joined the Eurofins Group in 2006. With its highly qualified employees and long experience, the lab currently supports its customers through the chemical analytical detection of plant protection products and other industrial chemicals in teas, herbs and water, and can handle very complicated matrices.
Contact: HelmutRost@eurofins.de
Chloramphenicol in enzyme preparations
Several notifications concerning the presence of chloramphenicol in enzyme preparations have appeared in the European Commission's Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) since July of this year. The use of chloramphenicol in food and feed production is not permitted in the EU; nevertheless it is frequently detected mainly in imported animal products. Contaminated enzymes were intended for use in feed and food such as bakery products, wine and fruit juices. It is recommended that enzymes and related products are checked for the absence of chloramphenicol.
Contact: CarinaBartz@eurofins.de
