"FARMERS WEEKLY"
A version of the following letter was published 28 August 1998 in "Farmers Weekly", a leading British agricultural journal.
No faith in GM approval system
Dear Sir
Monsanto’s latest advertising campaign for GM foods tries to reassure consumers that they are safe because a variety of governments around the globe have already issued approvals.
However, this May a coalition of scientists and others filed a suit against the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) claiming that GM food approval procedures are so inadequate as to violate the agency’s statutory mandate to protect public health. The suit challenges 33 GM foods which they say are being sold without adequate safety testing.
In June Professor Samuel Epstein of the University of Illinois drew attention to the exceptionally high levels of a known breast, colon and prostate carcinogen in milk produced using Monsanto’s genetically engineered BST. The FDA gave BST approval despite tests revealing that growth stimulating effects were induced in organs of adult rats when fed the carcinogen at low dose levels for only two weeks. Two investigative journalists are also suing their employer FOX TV after it required them to suppress a related story following pressure from Monsanto.
In July Dr Shiv Chopra, a Canadian Government Scientist, filed an official grievance against his employers who have prevented him from speaking out in public about the inadequacies of Canadian GM testing procedures.
It is now the month of August when the House of Commons has banned GM foods from its
own restaurants because of their unknown risks. Is there anyone in 1998, other than
scientists from the biotechnology companies themselves, who has any faith left in the GM
regulatory system?
Sincerely,
Mark Griffiths
Mark Griffiths BSc FRICS FAAV
Environment Spokesman
Natural Law Party
Will GM crops deliver benefits to farmers? - some
realities behind biotechnology myths
Why consumers are concerned about GM foods
Earlier letter in Farming News on lack of markets for GM crops
Why GM crops will put farmers at legal risk
Dorset farmers react in support of NLP GM warnings
NLP calls for Hampshire to be declared "GM Free
Zone"
Dorset Farmers advised to avoid GM Oilseed Rape
GM crops a threat to future viability of farming in Hampshire
Hampshire firm develops non-genetically engineered Soya for growing
in UK
Natural Law Party campaign to ban genetically modified foods in Wessex
