"The statement that people in the United States never eat genetically modified food is pure rumor. In fact, the US has the longest history in the world of growing and eating genetically modified crops."

Li Ning, head of the genetic security office under the Ministry of Agriculture's science and technology development center, said in an online interview on Wednesday. The ministry's decision to issue biosafety certificates to three new overseas varieties of genetically modified soybeans raised concerns over safety assessments. The ministry announced that it approved imports of three varieties of genetically modified Brazilian soybeans on June 13.