New food test ensures proper labeling.

• Position: Genetically Modified Crops - Brief article

As the abundance of genetically modified (GM) foods continues to grow, so does the demand for monitoring and labeling them. The genes of GM plants used for food are tweaked to make them more healthful or pest-resistant but some consumers are wary of such changes. To help inform shoppers and enforce regulations, scientists are reporting in the journal Analytical Chemistry the first comprehensive method to detect genetic modifications in one convenient, accurate test.

By the end of 2012, farmers were growing GM crops on more than 420,000,000 acres of land across 28 countries--100 times more than when commercialization began in 1996. However, doubts persist about the potential effects on the environment and human health of these biotech crops.

In response, policymakers, particularly in Europe, have instituted regulations to monitor GM products...