GM Crop Safety Tests 'Flawed,' New Scientific Paper Shows

[villagechild]

Washington, DC (US) / Brussels (Belgium)/ London (UK), November 16, 2004 – A peer-reviewed scientific paper published today in Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Reviews debunks the myth that genetically modified (GM) crops are thoroughly tested, regulated and proven safe. The paper ... reveals fundamental flaws in how biotech companies test and the U.S. government regulates GM crops.

The US is the world’s largest exporter of GM crops and accounts for nearly two-thirds of all biotech crops planted globally. GM soy and GM corn account for 83 percent of all GM crops planted on the planet.

“The picture that emerges from our study of U.S. regulation of GM foods is a rubber-stamp ‘approval process’ designed to increase public confidence in, but not ensure the safety of, genetically engineered foods,” said Schubert. http://www.foe.org/new/releases/1104gmcrops.html

[Buzz Clik]

1. Considering the early work on GM foods that was very thorough,

exactly what is the concern? Fear of the unknown?

[villagechild]

2. fear of the unknown

no long-term studies done on GM crops.


Deficiencies in U.S. government regulation:

* The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not require testing of GM foods, but rather has a “voluntary consultation” process. Companies that voluntarily consult with the FDA sometimes fail to respond to FDA requests for additional information. FDA reviews “summary data,” not full studies, making a critical review impossible. FDA does not approve GM crops as safe; instead, the GM crop developer is made responsible for the safety of its product.

* The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates insecticide-producing GM plants. EPA often fails to collect data for review of potential human health impacts and accepts substandard testing by biotech companies. EPA has ignored evidence from independent researchers that conflicts with company-provided information. EPA raises the maximum permissible levels of herbicide residues on crops to facilitate introduction of herbicide-tolerant GM crops.

* The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) has not established rigorous rules to prevent GM crops from contaminating conventional crops, even when the contamination could lead to creation of difficult to control “superweeds.” USDA permits cultivation of GM pharmaceutical crops, despite two contamination incidents necessitating destruction of large quantities of corn and soybeans. The USDA does not test neighboring fields for GM contamination or require companies to supply test kits.

[KT2000]

5. You are kidding, right?

1) This is a technology based on the out-dated assumption that each gene is coded for its own single protein, but most human genes are capable of making at least two different proteins. Suprise!

2) You might want to read up on what happened to repected scientist Dr. Arpad Pusztai in England. He conducted one of the few health safety tests. He found that rats fed GM potatoes suffered immune system damage; damaged thymuses and spleens;smaller less developed brains, livers and testicles; enlarged pancreas and intestines; structural cahnges and proliferation os cell in the stomach and intestines. The cause was the process of genetic engineering - the same method used by food comapnies.
He thought his results were important and industry and government (UK) reacted by destroying his career and reputation and manipulating the published results.

Arthur Anderson wrote the business plan for Monsanto's entry into the GM market. The goal is to control the seed supply in 20 years. Part of the plan is to rush so much to market that opposition is overwhelmed and drowned out.

[BrotherBuzz]

3. How long did mother nature field test her product?

[NuttyFluffers]

4. She still is. ;)

unfortunately through evolution some products didn't last. i have no interest speeding up that field test knowing that humans are a product that can be on the very same chopping block.

[villagechild]

6. for the record

My vote is against all GM products. The corporations that produce them are the worst kind of criminals. Monsanto, the leader, is rotten to the core. I think the FOOD issue should take priority over most political issues (even voting rights) ... and the food and water issues could be used to unite all political parties. Vote with your money (what little we have). Village Child