hidden threats gmo food 2009 01 19

7/31/2019 Hidden Threats GMO Food 2009 01 19

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Hidden Threats

Food from GeneticallyModified Crops


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GM crops and Food Safety

Since the 1980s severalcompanies are aiming todevelop genetically modifiedcrops and to market them

Chemical companyMonsanto dominates themarket for seeds of GM crops- holding 70%100% marketshare for various crops

Other companies: Pioneer,Syngenta and Bayer

DVD: The WorldaccordingtoMonsanto(2008)


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Artificial organisms

to artificially create newliving organisms thatwould never naturallyoccur through breeding.

GE crops are producedusing laboratorytechniques where

genetic material fromthe cells of one speciesis transferred intoanother species


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Of economicalimportance are so fartwo types:

1. Herbicide resistantcrops can stand high doses of aspecific herbicide

in case of Monsantos seeds:Roundup Ready crops

Types of GM Crops


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Types of GMO (2)

2. Bt crops, such asBt corn and Bt cotton

these crops have aninserted gene from the

bacteria Bacillusthuringiensis(Bt)which enables them toproduce a poison which

shall kill the dominantpests corn borer,

cotton bollworm


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Importance of GM crops

Worldwide, 9 percent theglobal primary cropproduction fromgenetically modified crops

2006: over 100 millionhectares in 22 countries

64% of total soya cropand 24% of the global

maize crop


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Importance (2)

Many processed foodscontain Soybean oiland/or glucose syrup

(from corn) Difficult to avoid food

containing geneticallymodified material,

especially in the USA


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Animal feeds

Likewise animal feedscommonly contain corn

and soybean meal fromGM crops

Also in Europe GMmaterial was found in

milk and meat


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Concern: Food Safety

GM food is not labeled assuch

The industry argues GMcrops are substantially

equivalent to their

conventional counterparts

Consequently no need forspecial considerations

concerning safety

Label GMO free opposed


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Producers ensure

All food developers andmanufacturers arerequired to ensure thesafety and quality of theirproducts.

Producers of new foodshave an obligation toensure that the foods theyoffer consumers are safe

and in compliance withapplicable legalrequirements(US Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act)


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Are GM crops safe to eat?

According to the NationalAcademy of Sciences,genetic transfers between

unrelated organisms do not

pose hazards or risks differentfrom those encountered bynatural selection or traditionalcross-breeding betweensimilar species.

The process itself by whichgenes are transferred doesnot make living organismsharmful.


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The risks

1. Effects due to theinsertion of genesinto chromosomes

of crops2. Roundup residues

3. Residues from Bt


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Risks due to the GM transformation

process

Advocates of GMcrops:no concerns aboutsafety because GMcrop material isdegraded duringprocessing into feedand during digestion.

( secretions of nucleases, enzymes whichbreak down DNA, along the gut.)


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process (2)

Since late 2005, threepublished studies by threedifferent scientific teamsand one unpublished study

detected transgenic plantDNA in animal tissues andmilk.

It is likely that people arebeing frequently exposed to

GM DNA by eating milk andmeat from GM-fed animals,albeit at very low levels


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process (3)

Harmless protein in oneorganism can beharmful in anotherorganism.

One factor: posttranslation modification

Rat feeding with GMpotatoes showed that

lesions in the gut wall ofthe rats were due tosubstances resultingfrom the process


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Roundup Ready (2)

Italian mouse trial:

Roundup Ready soyaaffects key body organs

FSA human feedingtrial: entire transgenic

gene in GM soysurvives the passagethrough the stomachand small intestine,though not through thecolon

Roundup residuescause cell damage

Greenpeace protest against GMO


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Roundup Ready (3)

Portions of transgenic

DNA had horizontally

transferred from GMfood into the intestinalbacteria of some of thevolunteers

Another rat feeding:

unexplained changes intesticle cells indicator of toxins


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Roundup Ready (4)

Russian study: rats fedwith GM soy showed afive-fold increase inmortality, lower birth

weights, and the inabilityto reproduce.

Photo:

showing stunted growth - the

larger rat, 19days old, is fromthe control group; the

smaller rat, 20 days old, isfrom the "GM soy group.


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Residues from Bt

Bt toxin is present in allthe cells in Bt maize,

the main GM maizeused in animal feed

Toxic reactions in rats(several studies)


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Residues from Bt (2)

Twelve cows diedmysteriously inGermany when fed Btcorn

In India, sheep diedafter grazing in cottonfields

More than 20 farmers

observed: pigs andcows became sterilefrom GM corn


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No adverse effects?

Nina Fedroff:

Adviser to the US Sec. of State

Despite dire predictions, no adverseeffects of GM crops on health,biodiversity and the environment have

been documented to date.

Phnom Penh Post, 24/12/2008


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Conclusion

Numerous feeding trailswith rats and severalobservations by farmersindicate that the novelsubstances of GM cropsare not as harmless asMonsanto and othersstate.

Assessment of the list of

risks indicates that GMcrops are currently fartoo risky to be used forfood or animal feed.


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Conclusion (2)

To some extent: Humanity hasbeen turned into a pack ofguinea pigs*

* somebody orsomething

experimentedon: somebodyor somethingused as thesubject of an

experiment ortest.


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Conclusion (3)

Producers andconsumers need to beaware of the loomingdangers

Information concerningproducts containing GMmaterial is essential

In food preparationssoy oil, cornstarch and

glucose syrup shouldnot be used unlessorigin is clear.


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Thank you!

hidden threats gmo food 2009 01 19

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