BANGKOK, Oct. 13 (Xinhuanet) -- The World Health Organization (WHO)has urged Thailand to make further research on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in order to be fully prepared to cope with possible risks posed by transgenetic food.

    "At this point, we have no evidence to say that it is dangerousto consume food products that contain GMOs, so we have to say thatwe don't know the adverse health effects of GM food," Bangkok Post newspaper on Wednesday quoted WHO Assistant Director-General Kertstin Leitner as saying at a food safety conference here.

    Leitner suggested more study on the issue be conducted to make sure that should there be a negative health effect, appropriate action could be taken.

    With more than 500 food safety regulators and scientists from 104 countries participating, the second World Food Safety Conference kicked off in Bangkok on Tuesday. The aim of the conference is to enhance food safety controls in developing countries and to curb food-related illness by setting up effective systems.

    One in there of the global population, particularly children and infants, are affected by food-borne diseases such as food poisoning which has caused 700,000 moralities in Asia alone, said Leitner.

    Assistant Director-General of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization Hartwig de Haen recommended governments strictly follow the international guidelines on scientific risk assessment before approving the use of transgenetic crop varieties. Enditem