Toxic GM Potatoes
In August 1998 widespread concern, especially in Europe, was sparked by remarks by nutrition researcher, regarding some of his research into the safety of GM foods.
Pusztai claimed his experiments showed that rats fed on potatoes genetically engineered to express a lectin from snowdrop had suffered serious damage to their immune systems and shown stunted growth. The lectin expressed by the genetically modified potatoes is toxic to insects and nematodes and is allegedly toxic to mammals. He was criticized by leading British politicians, the majority of scientific peers with expertise in the area and by the GM companies because the announcement of his results in a television interview, preceded the scientific publication of his results. When his studies were finally published in The Lancet, no evidence of stunted growth or damage to immune system was substantiated.
GM Corn
Another controversy recently arose around biotech company Monsanto's data on a 90-Day Rat Feeding Study on the MON863 strain of GM corn. In May 2005, critics of GM foods pointed to differences in kidney size and blood composition found in this study, suggesting that the observed differences raises questions about the regulatory concept of substantial equivalence.
The raising of this issue prompted the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to reexamine the saftey data on this strain of Corn. The EFSA concluded that the observed small numerical decrease in rat kidney weights were not biologically meaningful, and the weights were well within the normal range of kidney weights for control animals. There were no corresponding microscopic findings in the relevant organ systems, and all blood chemistry and organ weight values fell within the "normal range of historical control values" for rats.
GM soybean (Brazil-nut allergy)
A gene for an allergenic trait has been transferred unintentionally from the Brazil nut into genetically engineered soybeans while intending to improve soybean nutritional quality for animal feed use. Brazil nuts were already known to produce food allergies in certain people prior to this study. In 1993 Pioneer Hi-Bred International developed a soybean variety with an added gene from the Brazil nut. This trait increased the levels in the GM soybean of the natural essential amino acid methionine, a protein building block commonly added to poultry feed to improve effective protein quality. Investigation of the GM soybeans revealed that they produced immunological reactions with people suffering from Brazil nut allergy, and the explanation for this is that the methionine rich protein chosen by Pioneer Hi-Bred is the major source of Brazil nut allergy
What is wrong with Genetic Modification?
1) Crops which have been Genetically Modified to resist herbicides encourage the use of larger quantities of herbicide, with the effect that both weeds and beneficial plants are killed indiscriminately. These herbicides are harmful to both the environment and to humans.
2) Crops which have been Genetically Modified to contain their own insecticide, such as Bt, cause insects to become resistant to the insecticide.
3) Genetically Modified plants may crossbreed with wild species to produce "superweeds", which cannot be eliminated using standard herbicides.
4) The use of Genetically Modified seed encourages dependence by the farmers on a single seed supplier and may involve the purchase of both the seed and herbicide from one supplier. Seed companies impose 'licensing agreements' for the seed which forbid the farmer from replanting seed from one year to the next.
5) Toxic compounds such as glyphosate (RoundUp) and Bromoxynil are used on Genetically Modified crops.
6) The nature of genetic modification and long term effects are not well understood as these products have not been properly tested before being released into the environment.
7) Genetic material inserted into plants can transfer to animals and humans in the intestinal wall.
8) Crops which have been Genetically Modified to resist insects kill not just the "target insect" (such as the borer or weevil) but beneficial insects (such as the Monarch butterfly). They also threaten the habitats of other animals, such as birds.
9) Crops which have been Genetically Modified to produce pharmaceuticals can contaminate the food supply.
