Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 184: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the extent to which genetically modified food or food products are imported here and to other EU countries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25968/08]

Mary Wallace (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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The following genetically modified foods are authorised for sale in all EU Member States: vegetable oil from oil seed rape; vegetable oil from cotton seed; maize products; soya products; sugar beet products.

These products are normally used as food ingredients and have been identified in a variety of products such as vegetable casseroles, gluten-free reduced sugar rusks, soya protein mince, soya protein chunks, soya biscuits and cakes, soya bran, soya flour, infant formula, soya cream, soya yogurt, soya drink, soya dessert, lecithin granules derived from soya bean and maize meal, tortilla chips, taco shells, breadcrumbs for chicken, and burger and corn snacks derived from maize. This list, however, is not exhaustive.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) routinely surveys the food supply in Ireland to ensure that only EU-authorised and appropriately labelled GM food ingredients are placed on the market. In their recent survey, published in February 2008, no breaches of GM food legislation were found.