Subject: [Homestead] Monsanto never gives up trying to kill people
Date: Tue, 21 Sep 2004 09:18:53 -0700
This is one company that seriously needs to be put out of
busness---hiding evidence of adverse effects of their GM corn is
punishable by death---unfortunately the death of you and your family,
not the death of Monsanto.
*GM Corn Recall Demand Has Authorities Scrambling*
*Monday, 20 September 2004, 10:19 am*
*Press Release: GE Free NZ*
GM Corn Recall Demand Has Food Authorities Scrambling
Demand for Recall of Suspect GM Corn Has Food Authorities Scrambling
GE Free (NZ) is demanding a total national recall of the MON 863
(A484) corn by New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) following
revelations that it was found to be harmful in secret animal-feeding
trials.
Evidence of significant adverse effects from transgenic corn MON 863
were revealed after it was found Monsanto deliberately held back the
data when applying for the product to be approved for humans. And
despite requests for the data by food authorities, it is understood
Monsanto is continuing to refuse to publish the data.
"There are clear signals the corn places our children, the elderly
and those who suffer poor immune-systems at risk, "says Claire
Bleakley of GE Free NZ in food and environment.
" We are calling on authorities to recall the product and for proper
independent scientific testing to be done".
But fundamental flaws in the system for monitoring and recalling the
product could send Food Authorities into a spin as they scramble to
identify which products include the suspect corn.
Despite official claims of rigorous approval and monitoring it is
understood the GE corn has been allowed into products, which are
unlabelled for GE, and subject to virtually no monitoring.
Monsanto's original research into the adverse effects of the corn on
animals was not presented to the authorising body Food Standards
Australia/New Zealand (FSANZ), casting a further shadow over the
validity of the system for regulating novel foods.
"It is important that a recall of the food is begun immediately
before any problems occur," says Mrs Bleakley. "By law FSANZ can
only recall products in Australia, not here in New Zealand. It is up
to the NZFSA to recall any food that has safety issues raised about
it in New Zealand". MON 863 corn has been on the market in New
Zealand for the past 6 months.
Foods that could contain the corn are most refined and prepared
baking products (like modified starch ingredients; refined oil; high
fructose and glucose syrups; cereals; baking products; corn chips;
dessert mixes; canned foods.). Despite processing there is a clearly
identified risk that novel proteins and by-products created as a
result of the genetic modification could still cause harm.
The unpublished 90 day trial with rats is understood to have found:
• significant increases in white blood cells in males;
• reduced levels of immature red blood cells in females;
• significant increases in blood sugar in females; and,
• increased abnormalities such as degeneration or inflammation in
the kidneys of male rats.
The system for a food safety recall is now being tested in a
real-life scenario. Unfortunately it seems to be a shambles,
demanding urgent government action, and an end to the pretence that
the system is under control, when it is clearly not.
References: The French newspaper translation of Le Monde Monsanto's
MY 863 corn. http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=3308 article
. 1.Food watchdog to recheck GM corn 03 September 2004 http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/print/0,1478,3022279a11,00.html
www.foodstandards.govt.au - Food Standards Australia New Zealand
(FSANZ) coordinates food recalls in Australia only - but not in New
Zealand. - it is the responsibility of NZFSA.