[Detection of transgenic components in animal feeds on Shanxi markets]

To assess the presence of genetically modified (GM) maize and soybean in a range of commercialized feed in Shanxi province of China in 2015, improved hexadecyltrimethy ammonium bromide (CTAB) method was used to extract DNA. The screening of packed feeds was carried out by qualitative PCR. Then positive feeds were unpacked and detected by the CaMV 35S promoter, NOS terminator, zSSIIb, Lectin and CryIA (b) genes. The identified maize and soybean events were confirmed by event-specific MON810 and GTS40-3-2. Results showed that 83.3% of the feeds was tested positive for GMOs, in which positive rates of maize, soybean, pig and layer feeds were 6.67%, 100%, 93.3% and 73.3%, respectively. The results of real-time PCR were consistent with qualitative PCR. These results indicated that commercialized GM feed had a wide positive product scope in Shanxi province of China. Further studies are necessary to study effects of feeding livestock and poultry with feed containing GM ingredients on animals and their products.