Quotable

The safety of genetically modified food should not be judged by an aunty, or dama, next door, but by professional authorities."

Kou Jianping, an official in charge of management on biosafety for GM food under the Ministry of Agriculture, said at a training class for media reporters on GM knowledge on Friday. Kou was responding to a longtime, heated domestic debate among the public over the safety of GM food. Such food that has been officially approved by government authorities is safe, he said.