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GM foods explained

GM foods explained. Presented by MADGE Mothers are Demystifying Genetic Engineering. Who is MADGE?. A network of mothers concerned about the introduction of GM foods and crops We want to be confident about the safety of our food We believe we have the right to know what is in our food.

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GM foods explained

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  1. GM foods explained Presented by MADGE Mothers are Demystifying Genetic Engineering

  2. Who is MADGE? • A network of mothers concerned about the introduction of GM foods and crops • We want to be confident about the safety of our food • We believe we have the right to know what is in our food

  3. Getting to know you Hands up if: You are a mother You are a farmer You are a councillor You feel like you already know a lot about GM You feel like you don’t know much about GM at all

  4. What are we going to talk about today? • Introduce Madge • What is Genetically Modified food? • How are GM foods made? • Are they safe? • What GM foods are in Australia? • How can I avoid GM foods?

  5. What does Genetically Modified mean? • DNA - instructions for life. • Genes are instructions for making proteins that do particular things. • GM scientists take a gene from one species and transfer to another species. • Like moving lego blocks around - simple!

  6. Blasted by particle gun How are genes transferred? A T C G *Gene cassette • Gene cassette coated onto tungsten or gold pellets • Blasted in using gene gun • Not precise – random insertion location.

  7. Effect on the DNA • Mutations (2-4% of DNA) • Deletion of genes • Permanently on or off • Altered gene expression (up to 5%)

  8. What could go wrong?

  9. Pigs engineered with human gene: some born with no anus or genitals. • GM tobacco: created toxic compound not normally found in tobacco. • GM yeast: unintentionally increased natural toxin 40 to 200 times. • A GM potato: accidentally had its starch content boosted.

  10. Rats refused to eat GM tomatoes Rats were forced fed through gastric tubes and stomach washes.

  11. After 28 days • 7 of 20 rats developed stomach lesions and bleeding • Another 7 of 40 died within 2 weeks • Tomato was approved 1 Industry funded study a

  12. GM potatoes damaged rats Rats developed • Potentially precancerous cell growth in the digestive tract • Smaller brains, livers and testicles • Partial atrophy of the liver, and • Immune system damage

  13. Mice fed GM soy • Altered young sperm cells • Embryos had altered gene expression

  14. Control Rat testicles GM soy fed GM-soy: disturbance of blood stream Control

  15. What do GM crops look like? Non GM canola GM canola Can you tell the difference? Neither can we and thats the problem!

  16. What GM crops are available? In the Americas: • Soy, Cotton, Canola, Corn • 2 x GM traits: • Herbicide tolerance (Ht). • Insecticide Synthesis (Bt). In Australia: • Bt cotton in NSW, Qld. • (Soon) Ht canola in Vic, NSW. • SA, WA, Tas have all extended their GM bans!

  17. Is there evidence of possible harm from GM foods? • There are only a small number of independent safety studies of GM foods, but some have shown adverse effects • Dr Judy Carman “Effects have been found on the liver, kidney, pancreas, testes, digestive system, respiratory system, immune function (including allergy) and reproduction”

  18. Are GM foods safe to eat? • Don’t know, because FSANZ (Food Standards Australia New Zealand) ... • Does none of its own testing! • Merely reviews test data submitted by GM companies! • Requires no long-term animal feeding studies. • Safety assessment based on “substantial equivalence” • No post marketing surveillance of any GM products. • No human clinical trials.

  19. Hospital admission rates for anaphylaxis in Australia have increased dramatically Hospital admission rates for anaphylaxis - financial years 1993-94 to 2004-05 *Rate per million population Paediatric food allergy trends in a community-based specialist allergy practice, 1995-2006, Raymond J Mullins, MJA Vol. 186 No. 12 pp 618-621

  20. Anaphylaxis Admissions vs GM Crop Approvals Is there a link between allergy increases and the introduction of GM foods?

  21. GM on our plates & in our fields • Bans instituted in 2003. • Set to expire Feb 29, 2008. • Victorian govt. created a “panel of experts” to conduct review. • Review panel recommended lifting of bans. • Farmers are now free to grow GM canola.

  22. Weak Australian labeling laws • GM foods do not have to be labeled if: • Sold in restaurant or food outlet • Food is derived from animals fed GM fodder. • If GM product is an oil, enzyme or processing agent. • If less than 1.0% “accidental” contamination.

  23. Questions we are entitled to ask • Why haven’t studies showing adverse health effects of GM foods in animals beenrepeated? • Why don’t our Government authorities carry out independent animal feeding studies before introducing GM crops into our food system? • Why aren’t all GM foods labelled to facilitate traceability in the food system and monitoring of public health effects?

  24. Being a food detective

  25. The supermarket challenge Are any of these foods GM?

  26. First the good news… • We have lots of wonderful food in Australia that isn’t GM • Fruit & vegetables • Pasture-fed meats & dairy • Australian-grown cereal crops (except canola from November) • Foods labelled ‘Product of Australia’ • But ingredients like additives & enzymes may be imported & may be GM • Cottonseed could be GM & canola from November • Many producers have GM-free policies – look for the labels or call the information lines • Organic foods are GM-free

  27. What foods might be GM? • Australian cottonseed oil, ‘vegetable oil’ & (from November) canola oil • Find out what your chips are cooked in • All other GM will be imported, mostly from the Americas • Look out for soy lecithin/protein, corn/maize syrup/starch – think laterally! • A handful of soy lecithin is thrown into almost everything processed • Food additives & processing enzymes

  28. How can I avoid GM foods? • Eat unprocessed foods – ‘make your own’ out of lovely Australian ingredients • Except for cottonseed oil and soon canola • Use the Greenpeace True Food Guide • Look for products labelled GM-free • Buy from local farmers markets • Buy organic • Ring information numbers on food packaging • Be a food detective!

  29. If you’re concerned, what else can you do? • Be informed - sign up to the MADGE newsletter • Go through your cupboards, and contact food manufacturers to find out whether your foods contain GM ingredients • Tell MADGE what you find out, so we can let others know • Tell food manufacturers and retailers how you feel about GM foods • Right now, Australian food companies are deciding whether to use GM canola in their products • Tell your State and Federal politicians your concerns • Sign the Greenpeace ‘GM Food - Our Right to Know’ petition

  30. ‘GM Food - Our Right to Know’ At the very least it is imperative that any GM produce be labelled Stephanie Alexander People have a right to know what they are eating Margaret Fulton If we are to get GM canola, it should be labelled, and if it is not labelled, we should all ask why Dr Rosemary Stanton, Nutritionist

  31. Our food, our right, our responsibility Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world Margaret Mead, Anthropologist

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