The WeChat article also noted "GMO food has been banned in the US, and many European countries."

However, according to data released by the US National Agricultural Statistics Service this June, genetically-engineered varieties make up more than 90 percent of the three major crops — corn, cotton and soybeans — planted in the US.

As for European countries, 49 GMO crops including cotton, corn and rapeseed, have been authorized by the European Food Safety Authority as of September 2014.

Mark Lynas, a British author and environmentalist, said since the large-scale production of GMO crops began in 1996, no safety accidents related to GMO food have occurred in more than 60 countries and regions where GMO food is approved, which account for three-fourths of the world population.

GMO food has been a controversial issue in China, with many consumers worrying about the potential threats posed to their health.

A 2016 survey on GMO food shows only 11.9 percent of the over 2,000 respondents supported GMO food, while 41.4 percent held a negative attitude about the technology.

Despite the controversy, China is stepping up industrialization of GMO crops to boost agricultural output, according to a guideline released by the State Council in 2016.

The guideline, which lays out a blueprint for the development of GMO food from 2016 to 2020, said the country would accelerate research and development of genetically-modified crops, including corn, soybean and cotton.

The blueprint said given safety concerns, non-edible GMO crops would be developed first, followed by feed crops and ordinary food crops, and staple crops will be introduced last.

In China, only genetically-engineered cotton and papaya are allowed to be planted at a large scale.

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