Here is a newsletter of GE news
Mothers for Natural Law
Biweekly News 99/03/14
1. Industrial Enzymes are Top Allergens
2. Australia: Study reveals side effects of synthetic insulin
3. Yield of GE crops
4. Bt resistance has emerged among pink bollworms
5. Australia: Label gene food, says jury
6. Malaysia: GM food must be labelled
7. NZ: DOCTORS WANT EXTREME CAUTION ON ALTERED FOOD
8. Australia: Gene food conference says more information needed
9. Third World rejects GM
10. UK: Fast-food outlets turn against GM food 11. S.Africa produces first
gene-modified maize
Articles have been aggressively shortened.
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Subject: Industrial Enzymes are Top Allergens
Summary of an article in the Swiss health magazine "PulsTip" posted by:
creuss@bluewin.ch (Christoph Reuss)
Industrial enzymes are top triggers of allergies and asthma, according to a
new dissertation from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH). A
study with 110 participants showed that for 90% of asthma patients and 80%
of neurodermitis patients, the symptoms either disappeared or were strongly
reduced by eliminating industrial enzymes from their diet and from laundry
detergents. Neurodermititis and food allergies have boomed since the 1960s
when the industry started to artificially add enzymes to foods and laundry
detergents.
Industrial enzymes are used in a wide range of foods, to improve gains,
processability, shelf-life, taste and other properties in flour, starches,
pop drinks, fruit juices, oils, beer, whine, cheese and meat. These
artificially-added enzymes don't have to be declared on the labels, and it
is hard to avoid them. Many of these enzymes are produced by genetically
modified organisms (GMOs), usually molds and bacteria. Since the produced
enzymes are subsequently separated from the GMOs, the use of GMOs doesn't
have to be declared. However, the separation is often incomplete, and
residuals of the molds and bacteria are the main culprits of allergies.
Industrial enzymes are a vast business. Novo Nordisk, the Danish market
leader, makes about $500 million per year with industrial enzymes. The
gains in the food industry by using these enzymes and the market of
anti-allergy drugs are even bigger (billion$). It's not surprising that
the industry and allergy research establishment refused to comment or
cooperate on the new ETH research.
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Copyright 1999 AAP Information Services Pty. Ltd. AAP NEWSFEED
March 10, 1999, Wednesday
Nationwide General News; Australian General News
Study reveals side effects of synthetic insulin
Up to 40,000 Australian diabetics may unwittingly be suffering adverse
side-effects from taking genetically engineered synthetic insulin, The
Sydney Morning Herald reported today. The paper was quoting British
research completed six years ago but only now released. It said the
availability of animal-derived alternatives, which doctors agreed suited
some patients better, was about to be further limited by the withdrawal of
the main brand of cattle-derived "beef" insulin from the market. Novo
Nordisk would withdraw from the market in July, citing commercial reasons.
The Herald said "pork" insulin was withdrawn in 1990 although the firm made
it available to some people on "compassionate grounds". The UK research,
commissioned by the British Diabetics Association, had found up to 10 per
cent of diabetes patients might suffer side effects as a result of taking
synthetic "human" insulin, the paper reported.
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http://members.tripod.com/~ngin/farming.htm
Low yielding GM-beet and rape in UK
Farmers Weekly (UK) for the 4th December 1998 reveals that the latest crop
trials from the UK's National Institute of Agricultural Botany (NIAB) show
yields from GM winter oilseed rape and sugar beet were up to 7% and 8% less
than high yielding conventional varieties when the crops were managed using
conventional weed control techniques. Even with the use of a total
herbicide on the GM-beet, to which it was modified to be resistant, only a
2% improvement in yield was achieved in 1997 and 1998, leaving it still
significantly outperformed by the conventional varieties. Interestingly,
this appears to be the first report in the popular farming press of GM
trial crop performance results for varieties grown in the UK.
The usual source of performance information is the biotechnology companies
themselves.
http://www.ucsusa.org/Gene/su98.rain.html
Low-Yielding Bt cotton in Arkansas
According to the April 1998 Cotton Grower, Bt-cotton growers in Arkansas
had less than a banner year last season. A University of Arkansas study of
several Bt and non-Bt cotton fields showed that on average Bt cotton
yielded fewer pounds and lower income per acre. One farm showed a
remarkable difference in yield--Bt cotton produced 168 fewer pounds per
acre than the non-Bt variety. Bt cotton, on the farms studied, yielded an
average of 24 fewer pounds per acre. Also, the new varieties required more
growth regulator to synchronize plant development and had to be picked
twice at harvest. Non-Bt cotton is typically picked only once.
------------------
FOOD BYTES #17 March 2, 1999
Ronnie Cummins & Ben Lilliston
The mid-January 1999 issue of the California Farmer magazine reports that
Bt resistance has emerged among pink bollworms, a major cotton pest, in
Arizona cotton fields Biotech critics have warned for years that
genetically engineered Bt crops will cause major crop pests to develop
resistance to Bt, thereby destroying the usefulness of the world's most
important natural biopesticide.
------------------
Sydney Morning Herald
Saturday, March 13, 1999
Label gene food, says jury
By DEBORAH SMITH
After deliberating through the night until dawn, a citizen's jury at
Australia's inaugural consensus conference brought down a unanimous report
yesterday recommending that all genetically modified (GM) foods be labelled.
The 14-member lay panel also called, in effect, for a short moratorium on
any new commercial releases of GM foods in Australia, or the importation of
unlabelled ones, until a better regulatory system was in place.
------------------
Copyright 1999 New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad New Straits Times
(Malaysia)
March 11, 1999
GM food must be labelled
... genetically-modified foods taste and look very much like their
naturally-grown counterparts.
The unsuspecting and uninformed consumer thus is totally unaware that he is
buying GM food. Although the dangers of consuming these food have not been
scientifically established, evidence is mounting that they can cause
increased levels of toxins in humans and animals, a higher susceptibility
to allergies and resistance to antibiotics. The more troubling aspect of
these GM foods is that no quick scientific method exists to identify these
produce. Adding to the problem, is the fact that these foodstuffs are not
labelled. Information on these GM foods had been available over the past
several years. But only in specialised publications and science articles.
But thanks to a food security conference held in Penang last week the
controversial issue was extensively discussed and publicised.
The gist of the discussions was the call for the need to label these foods.
The conference organiser, F. Josie of Consumers International's Regional
Office for Asia and the Pacific, pointed out the problems these foodstuffs
would pose. For one, the European Union has banned these foods. Thus
countries like Malaysia are at a "high risk of being treated as a dumping
ground for these items". For another, nothing is being done to prevent the
entry of such foods. More importantly, we do not have any law that requires
description of how the food was produced. Clearly then the Government must
act fast before the dangers of consuming the GM food manifest themselves at
the cost of the health, and worse, the lives, of consumers. It must enforce
legislation that lets the people know what they are buying and eating.
------------------
Copyright 1999 AAP Information Services Pty. Ltd. AAP NEWSFEED
March 10, 1999, Wednesday
Nationwide General News; Overseas News
NZPA News Bulletin
DOCTORS WANT EXTREME CAUTION ON ALTERED FOOD
WELLINGTON - Doctors have warned the Government to take "exceptional
caution" about genetically modified food because research was incomplete
and biased. The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners chairman
Ralph Wiles said much of the research on genetically altered food raised
serious health and environmental safety concerns. "Much of the information
available is from the proponents of the technology - who stand to make a
lot of money if it's widely approved - but we're now hearing more from
independent scientists whose research points to significant risks," Dr
Wiles said in a statement. "It's not being alarmist to urge that
exceptional caution be applied until such time as we have available
sufficient information to satisfy a reasonable person that the products of
this technology are safe."
------------------
Copyright 1999 AAP Information Services Pty. Ltd. AAP NEWSFEED
March 13, 1999, Saturday
Nationwide General News; Australian General News
Gene food conference says more information needed
By Stephen Spencer
CANBERRA, March 12 AAP - A landmark conference today called for the
comprehensive labelling of genetically modified food and a halt to its
import and development until a new regulatory regime is established.
However the food industry welcomed the findings, saying they gave the green
light to genetically modified foods to be sold here, and earn billions of
dollars in exports. The consensus conference brought together 14 lay people
who questioned experts of genetically modified foods and others with an
interest in the topic. Their report released today was hailed by Australian
Democrats Deputy Leader Natasha Stott Despoja, because of its call for
comprehensive labelling to allow consumers to decide whether or not they
bought such foods.
------------------
Sunday Independent (London) Feb 28, 1999
Third World rejects GM
By Geoffrey Lean, Environment Correspondent
The world's hungriest nations have resolved to oppose genetically modified
foods. A senior Ethiopian government official last night told the
Independent on Sunday they were "absolutely united" in resisting US plans
to "decide what we eat". Dr Tewolde Gebre Egziabher was speaking after last
week's talks collapsed in Cartagena, Colombia, following the United States'
accusation that the developing countries were endangering free trade. An
international treaty to regulate trade in GM produce had been discussed by
132 nations.
------------------
http://news2.thdo.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/newsid%5F292000/292829.stm
Monday, March 8, 1999 Published at 16:39 GMT
UK
Fast-food outlets turn against GM food
Some restaurants are banning GM ingredients
A survey has revealed further signs that consumers are turning against
genetically-modified (GM) food.
Almost half of the UK's leading fast-food outlets are turning their backs
on GM food, according to research conducted by environmental group Friends
of the Earth. The organisation asked 11 fast food chains with 50 or more
outlets whether they were going to remove GM ingredients from the food they
sold.
Between them the 11 companies have 3,548 outlets across the UK.
Three of the chains - Wimpy, Pizza Express and Domino's Pizza - already
believe they are GM-free. Two others - Burger King and KFC - are in the
process of removing all GM ingredients from their products. And McDonald's
and Perfect Pizza said they were currently considering going GM-free.
------------------
S.Africa produces first gene-modified maize
10:06 a.m. Mar 05, 1999 Eastern
By Allan Seccombe
PRETORIA, March 5 (Reuters) - South Africa's first genetically modified
grain has been grown commercially and will be sold on the market mixed with
other grains, a leading seed seller said on Friday. ``Up to 50,000 hectares
of genetically modified maize has been planted this season and will be sold
in the commercial market,'' he said. Two strains of yellow maize, both
resistant to stalk borer, a pest that attacks maize, were being
commercially cultivated.
Copyright 1999 Reuters Limited.
------------------
Mothers for Natural Law
http://www.safe-food.org
====================================================
.........
Sunday Independent 14 Feb 1999 (UK)
Stop GM Foods - Scientists find banned soya in UK products
Government controls fail to stop illegal beans entering the food chain,
writes Rachel Sylvester
UNLICENSED genetically modified crops are entering the food chain in
Britain because the Government is unable to control the import of
ingredients.
Traces of genetically modified soya beans which have not been licensed as
safe for human consumption in Europe have been identified in products on
sale in this country.
.......
Sunday Indpendent (UK) 14 Feb 1999
Stop GM Food - Stray seeds land farmer in court
By Marie Woolf in Bruno, Saskatchewan
Farmers who find that stray genetically modified seeds have blown on to
their land from neighbours' fields and then taken root could face massive
fines if the agrochemical giant Monsanto wins a test case in a Canadian
court.
Percy Schmeiser, a farmer in Saskatchewan, Canada, is being pursued by
Monsanto for damages and the profits from his fields because the company
claims that the patent on its genetically modified (GM) seeds has been
violated. GM
canola (rape) plants from Monsanto seeds were found growing among his
crops. The farmer believes that the seeds blew on to his land.
If Monsanto wins the test case, due to go to court this autumn, British
farmers in similar situations could also face court cases culminating in
having to pay thousands of pounds in compensation.
But Mr Schmeiser never signed a contract to grow Monsanto's GM canola and
says he is not liable to the big fines the company imposes for using seed
from crops. His fields run along a main road which links a grain silo and a
rubbish dump where used seed sacks are thrown away. The prairies can be
windy and cut crops are often blown on to neighbouring fields.
.......
Sunday Independent 14 Feb
Secret deal will ban GM crops until 2002
By Marie Woolf, Political Correspondent
Genetically modified crops are to be banned for three years under a
landmark deal being secretly negotiated between the Government and
biotechnology companies. After weeks of confidential talks, ministers are
poised to announce a breakthrough. Seed companies will agree to a voluntary
freeze on growing GM crops in Britain until at least the year 2002.
The deal, expected to be announced within the next three weeks, will mark a
victory for campaigners, including the Independent on Sunday, who have
called on the Government to delay planting GM crops in Britain until there
have been more tests on their environmental effects. The new freeze will
allow scientists to examine the effect of growing GM crops on other plants,
birds and animals.
__________________________________
Richard Wolfson, PhD
Consumer Right to Know Campaign
for Mandatory labelling and long-term
testing of genetically engineered food
500 Wilbrod Street, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N2
email: rwolfson@concentric.net
http://www.natural-law.ca/genetic/geindex.html
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