A new advisory report on the risks of new genetic engineering commissioned by the Federation of German Consumer Organisations (vzbv) demands that new GM techniques must continue to be strictly regulated and labelled in order to protect consumers from risks, to guarantee freedom of choice and to prevent damage to ecosystems and biodiversity. Sustainability claims made by producers must not lead to lower safety and labelling standards. The report concludes that EU regulation of new GM techniques should prevent:
* uncontrolled marketing or releases of new GMOs into the environment;
* damage to biological diversity, ecosystems and agriculture;
* health hazards from being introduced unnoticed into the food system where they might accumulate;
* data needed for risk assessment by independent experts being treated as confidential business information;
* contamination of organic and other food or seed production systems that exclude the use of GMOs.
The report adds that EU regulation of new GM techniques must ensure:
* a case-by-case risk assessment and an approval process for each NGT ‘event’, including taking accumulated effects into account;
* the further development of data requirements, guidelines and methods of risk assessment to achieve the highest safety standards, including cut-off criteria in cases where uncertainty is too great;
* the availability of information to track and trace the new GMOs and food products derived thereof;
* measures are in place to prevent the uncontrolled spread of new GMOs in the environment;
* consumer choice and coexistence with organic and GM-free food production;
* animal welfare is fully respected at all stages of new GM processes;
* prospective and comprehensive technology assessment is carried out before new GMOs are brought to market. vzbz

 

 

Recently the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved the commercial production and sale of a new purple coloured genetically modified (GM) tomato, known as the “purple tomato”. The US Food and Drug Administration, which is responsible for food safety, has yet to approve it. Here, once again, we have an unnecessary food product, genetically engineered for patent protection – a financially motivated concept – and without human safety testing. The purple tomato is genetically engineered to cause over-expression of anthocyanin pigments. When consumed in moderation, anti-inflammatory antioxidant compounds like anthocyanins can have health benefits. But too much of a good thing may not be good, writes Dr Ray Seidler. In some cases, supplementation trials of antioxidants have been associated with adverse effects, including increased mortality or stroke. GMWatch

 

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