[이데일리 박정수 기자] It was found that genetically modified pork pumpkins (zucchini pumpkins) that were not approved in Korea were distributed, and the government decided to take measures to collect and dispose of them. Zucchini zucchini, also called pork zucchini, is a different item from zucchini consumed in ordinary households.
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The National Seed Resources, affiliated with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, announced on the 26th that some zucchini and pumpkin seeds produced in Korea were judged to be non-approved genetically modified organisms (LMOs). The government confirmed that unapproved LMO seeds were distributed in Korea, banned the sale of the seeds, and recalled them.
For zucchini pumpkins currently being grown in regarding 3,500 farms across the country, shipments will be temporarily suspended from 10:00 pm on the same day, and shipments will be resumed from the 3rd of next month only if LMO negative is confirmed following a full investigation.
Zucchini pumpkins owned by consumers and distributors will also be suspended, and the government will collect and purchase all of them from the 29th to the 2nd of next month.
The sale of processed foods using zucchini and pumpkin as an ingredient will also be temporarily suspended, and sales will be allowed only when there are no abnormalities following collection and inspection.
Meanwhile, the National Seed Resources has been conducting LMO inspections on zucchini pumpkin seeds applied for registration of new varieties in Korea since this year.
In this inspection, a zucchini pumpkin seed newly developed and applied for by domestic company A was judged to be LMO, and it was found that the seed was bred using seeds sold by company B. Accordingly, the National Seed Resources conducted an inspection on all 121 types of zucchini pumpkin seeds and 126 types of zucchini seeds, and two types of zucchini pumpkins from company B were identified as LMO.
The two seeds were found to have been distributed from 2015 until recently, as company B imported seeds approved in the US, bred them without going through domestic quarantine procedures, and sold them. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has evaluated that the LMO is not harmful to the human body and has the same environmental impact as regular pumpkin.
