University in Wuhan denies being source of GM rice

Authorities in Hubei Province have launched an investigation into a Wuhan market to find out if genetically modified (GM) rice is circulating. The move came after a foreign institute released a report on Tuesday, claiming that GM rice had been detected in samples from a university in Wuhan, the Beijing News observed on Friday.

According to the report, four out of 15 random rice samples bought in November 2013 from a local supermarket and an open market in Wuhan contained GM ingredients, while three of the four contained Bt 63, an ingredient from a GM rice string named Bt Shanyou 63, developed by Wuhan-based Huazhong Agricultural University.

The university said it doesn't recognize the report and doubts the legitimacy of the foreign group's test.

The university also requested that the organization release more information, including the credentials and location of the test institution.

Deng Gansheng, chief agronomist of the Hubei Provincial Agricultural Department, said on Wednesday that inspections of crops including rice seeds, plants and rice have been launched across the province since 2013, and so far no crops containing GM ingredient have been found in over 1,300 samples.

Deng also said that the agricultural department has been closely following the incident, and that a further investigation is unfolding.