A plant-to-plant gene transfer to make conventional ingredients such as
citric acid and monosodium glutamate is acceptable.
A plant-to-plant gene transfer where genetic material is actually consumed,
such as tomatoes, corn, and rice, does not pose any issue either. These
examples provide clear benefits, delayed ripening in the case of Flavr Savr
tomatoes, protection against insects (corn borer) in the case of Bt corn,
and enhancement in the nutritional value of golden rice (Nelson, 2001a,
b; Nelson and Bullock, 2001).
Transfer of animal genes to bacteria to manufacture enzymes and other
bioactive ingredients is also acceptable as long as the safety of such ingredients
is established beyond doubt and the production process is halal.
Many of the enzymes produced these days use this new technology