Background

Genetically modified food and feed are regulated in the EU by:

• Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003.of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 September 2003 on genetically modified food and feed

• Regulation (EC) No 1830/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 September 2003 concerning the traceability and labeling of genetically modified organisms and the traceability of food and feed products produced from genetically modified organisms and amending Directive 2001/18/EC

Recital 16 of Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 states that: “…Processing aids which are only used during the food or feed production process are not covered by the definition of food or feed and, therefore, are not included in the scope of this Regulation. Nor are food and feed which are manufactured with the help of a genetically modified processing aid included in the scope of this Regulation. Thus, products obtained from animals fed with genetically modified feed or treated with genetically modified medicinal products will be subject neither to the authorisation requirements nor to the labelling requirements referred to in this Regulation.”

Eurasyp statement

Provided the following is taken into account:

1. the yeast is not genetically modified (including self-cloning);

2. if produced with the help of GM-derived processing aids (e.g. enzymes), the yeast falls under the exemption of Recital 16 and is therefore still to be considered as non-GM yeast;

3. if fed on GM-derived fermentation medium, the yeast falls under the same exemption as animals fed on GM feed mentioned in Recital 16 and is therefore still to be considered as a non-GM yeast;

4. for the formulation of the yeast extract no additives and carriers are used that are covered by the above GM Regulations;

a yeast extract will not lead to GM-labelling of the final consumer product.

Eurasyp recommends its members to be open and transparent about the nature of their products and to inform their customers in case a yeast extract does not comply with the above.