CDC to probe whether GM study used schoolchildren

China's top health authority has ordered an investigation into an allegation that genetically modified golden rice was tested on Chinese schoolchildren in Hunan province in 2008 as part of a Sino-US research project.

"The Ministry of Health has asked the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention to investigate and find out the truth as soon as possible, and inform the public of the findings," Deng Haihua, ministry spokesman said at a regular news conference on Tuesday.

"The ministry will also pay close attention to the investigation," he said.