Undisclosed genetically engineered ingredients are being added to baby formula and Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), does not require the labelling of genetically engineered ingredients on baby and other infant formulas, report GE Free New Zealand and the Safe Food Campaign. “We believe parents have the right to know the full ingredient details, especially if they are genetically engineered”, said Alison White, co-convenor of the Safe Food Campaign, which is calling for labelling. FSANZ approved another genetically engineered ingredient in June 2024 for addition to baby formula, follow-on formula and formulated supplementary foods for young children. The approved genetically engineered protein is a synthetic protein, 2'-O-fucosyllactose (2'-FL), produced by microbial fermentation using GM bacteria. This adds to the three already approved proteins and many unlabelled vitamins and soy ingredients that are also derived from GM processes. In a rat feeding study, animals fed the GM protein showed significant changes to blood parameters, limb weakness, diarrhoea, weight loss and reduced brain weight. However, in the EU, food safety authority EFSA still gave a positive opinion on its use. GE Free New Zealand

 

 

Prof Zacharys Anger Gundu, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Mkar, said the National Biosafety Management Agency cannot regulate genetically modified organisms (GMOs) because it lacks the technical and scientific capacity to do so. He maintained that, as such, the doubts against GMOs by stakeholders are credible. Gundu said this following his presentation at the National Conference on “Beyond Propaganda: Understanding the Truth about GMOs”, organised by HOMEF in collaboration with the GMO-Free Nigeria Alliance. Gundu also said that GMO science is driven by greed and profit, adding that Nigerian and African food security must be predicated on the “small farmer” using local plant and animal species. Business Day

 

 

At the HOMEF conference (see above), Nnimmo Bassey, director of HOMEF, said, “Genetic engineering technologies have further aided the concentration of power in the agricultural sector by allowing the companies to design suites of seeds and accompanying chemicals. Whereas plantations were powered by slavery and colonialism, agricultural neocolonialism is more subtle and persists in the coloniality of power, with the new leaders given to the notion of cash cropping instead of growing food to meet local needs. The distortion introduced by monocultures for cash rather than for food offers easy ways to subvert a people’s food sovereignty and inexorably births food insecurity... We must critically consider the underlying causes of food insecurity in Nigeria. Will GMOs solve bad governance, insecurity, climate change, poor extension service, lack of storage/processing infrastructure, soil degradation, poverty, inequalities, etc. that directly affect agricultural productivity? The obvious answer is no. We will not achieve food security and food sovereignty unless these critical issues are addressed." Business Day

 

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