BEIJING - Genetically modified rice seeds, along with some rice and rice products, have been on sale in Hunan and Hubei provinces, Greenpeace China claimed during a press conference on Wednesday. Local food authorities said investigations are underway.

The organization claimed three batches of tested GM rice seeds contained the genetic fragment BT, a bacterium that creates proteins to naturally repel insects.

Scientists do not yet agree that the BT gene is safe for human consumption.