WESSEX
Similar press releases to the one below were issued across the whole of the Wessex region
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NLP CLAIMS NEW LABELLING MOVE ON GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOODS HIDES HAZARDS
New voluntary labelling code still has dangerous loop-holes
Wessex News Release
January 1998
New labelling code by food retailers
A new code of practice for the voluntary labelling of genetically modified foods has been criticised by Clive Daly Natural Law Party General Election candidate for the Isle of Wight, for inadequately protecting consumers from the potential health risks associated with the consumption of such "novel foods".
Introduced with effect from 1st of January major food manufacturers and retailers have agreed to label food containing genetically modified protein. In particular this will initially apply to foods containing genetically modified maize and soya imported from the United States. 15% of the US 1997 soya crop is genetically modified. Because the modified soya is not segregated from the remainder of the soya crop, it is likely to be found in most shipments. Soya is used in 60% of processed foods including wholemeal bread and babyfood.
Hazards from products exempt from labelling
Under the new scheme highly processed food products such as soya oil will not require labelling due to the absence of viable protein. However, any health risks associated with foods containing or derived from genetically modified organisms are as likely, if not more so, to be related to other molecules surviving refinement or other processing.
In 1989 thirty seven people died and 1500 were left permanently disabled in the US as a result of a new toxin found in a food supplement manufactured using genetically modified bacteria. The supplement itself (known as tryptophan) contained no modified DNA or protein.
Call for global moratorium
According to Clive Daly, "The tryptophan case was extremely serious, and clearly demonstrates that the risks to health associated with foods containing, or derived from, genetically modified organisms is not confined to protein or DNA molecules. The new voluntary labelling scheme completely ignores this factor, and will result in the majority of products derived from genetically modified sources remaining unlabelled. Consumers will be forced to continue eating such products unknowingly despite clear evidence of potential risks."
Whilst tentatively welcoming the new voluntary labelling scheme as a small step in the right direction the Natural Law Party is not satisfied that the potential risks from the use of such materials can ever be satisfactorily contained, and is seeking a global moratorium on their release into the environment and introduction into the food chain.
"For the time being anyone who wishes to avoid eating products derived from genetically modified organisms will need to buy their food either from organic growers or from other supplies such as Iceland Food’s own-brand products which are guaranteed to be obtained from non-genetically engineered sources."
FT
report on voluntary labelling code
Tryptophan Toxicity
Incident
More information on organic food - Soil
Association Home Page
Iceland Foods ban all GMOs
NLP live on Radio Wye Valley on GMOs - free audio cassette
What leading scientists and public figures have said about the
dangers of genetically modified foods