1st Edition

Food Safety of Proteins in Agricultural Biotechnology

Edited By Bruce G. Hammond Copyright 2008
    316 Pages 38 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    With contributions from internationally recognized experts, Food Safety of Proteins in Agricultural Biotechnology comprehensively addresses how toxicology testing of proteins should be accomplished and how protein safety assessments should be carried out. Beginning with a background on protein biology, the book delineates the fundamental differences among proteins and small molecular weight chemicals that impact their safety assessment. It discusses the life cycle of proteins and explains why some protein toxins exert toxic effects and others do not.

    Drawing attention to the increasingly popular insect-protected Bt crops, contributions provide a detailed history of the safety assessment and environmental impact of these crops and answer many safety questions. The editors include the safety assessment process developed for enzymes, one of the earliest applications of proteins in food processing and production. The book addresses protein pharmaceuticals, focusing on the unique challenges of testing protein therapeutics in humans. It summarizes the food safety issues and controversies surrounding the use of bST to increase milk production in dairy cows.

    This unique volume also provides nuts and bolts information on conducting safety tests such as how to confirm that an introduced protein does not fit the profile of known allergens, how to carry out dietary exposure assessments for proteins introduced into food crops, and how to use sources of food consumption databases that are available internationally. It provides four case studies on the safety assessment of proteins of different structure and function to be introduced into biotechnology-derived agricultural crops. The final chapter is a review and distillation of the previously presented information on protein safety assessments and provides strategies for the safety assessment of future biotech products under development.

    Protein Structure and Function in Plants and Animals, P.J. Garlick

    The Mode of Action of Bacterial Protein Toxins: The Role of Conformational Changes in the Life Cycle of a Protein Toxin, J.W. Seale and L. English

    Safety Assessment of Bacillus thuringiensis and Bt Crops Used in Insect Control, B.A. Federici and J. Siegel

    Ecological Safety Assessment of Insecticidal Proteins Introduced into Biotech Crops, J.D. Wolt, J.R. Prasifka, and R.L. Hellmich

    The Safety of Microbial Enzymes Used in Food Processing, M.W. Pariza

    Safety Assessment of Biotechnology-Derived Therapeutic Drugs, B.J. Mounho, J.L. Bussiere, and A.B. Weir

    The Food Safety Assessment of Bovine Somatotropin (bST), B. Hammond

    Assessment of Food Proteins for Allergenic Potential, S. McClain, S. Vieths, and G.A. Bannon

    Methods for Estimating the Intake of Proteins in Food, B.J. Petersen

    Safety Assessment of Proteins Used in Crops Developed through Agricultural Biotechnology: Industry Perspective, E.A. Rice, T.C. Lee, G. Rogan, and G.A. Bannon

    The Safety Assessment of Proteins Introduced into Crops Developed through Agricultural Biotechnology: A Consolidated Approach to Meet Current and Future Needs, B. Hammond and A. Cockburn

    Index

    Biography

    Bruce G. Hammond

    ". . . a good resource for those who intend to do food protein safety assessment and for those who are interested in expanding their knowledge of the subject. The issues raised in the book are addressed in a practical and illuminating manner."

    – Anakalo Shitandi, Egerton University, in Inform, March 2009, Vol. 20, No. 3