eNEWS
January 2010 > War wages on over genetically engineered food
Several significant developments have occurred recently in the fight over genetically engineered crops.
In 2006, traces of rice genetically engineered (GE) by Bayer CropScience escaped test plots and found their way into rice fields in Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Farmers in those states ultimately lost millions when countries all over the world imposed restrictions on U. S. rice imports. Farmers Ken Bell and Johnny Hunter won a $2 million decision against Bayer CropScience Dec. 4 in a St. Louis court. More than 1,000 lawsuits have been filed against Bayer CropScience for the incident, so it appears to be a long road ahead for the company, and further supports the argument that GE crops spread too easily for controlled testing.
The USDA Animal and Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced Dec. 9 that corn genetically engineered for tolerance to glyphosate herbicides and acetolactate synthase-inhibiting herbicides is no longer regulated. APHIS had regulated the GE corn through its notification and permitting process since 2005.
On Dec. 14, APHIS made a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) available for public viewing that evaluates the potential environmental effects of deregulating two lines of alfalfa genetically engineered (GE) to tolerate the herbicide glyphosate, known commercially as Roundup ®. APHIS originally deregulated two lines of RR alfalfa (J101 and J163) in 2005 but was ordered by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in Feb. 2007 to prepare this draft EIS because they determined APHIS had not adequately documented potential environmental impacts. Comments must be submitted by Feb. 16, 2010.
The Organic Center has released a new report, "Impacts of Genetically Engineered Crops on Pesticide Use in the United States: The First Thirteen Years", which found a dramatic rise in the use of glyphosate weed killers on GE crops. Report author and chief scientist Dr. Charles Benbrook determined that 383 million additional pounds of herbicides have been used on GE crops since 1996 compared to what likely would have been used if GE crops had been replaced by conventional, non-GE varieties.
The International Journal of Biological Sciences has published a new report, "A Comparison of the Effects of Three GM Corn Varieties on Mammalian Health", that analyzes and compares the blood and organs of rats fed three main commercialized genetically modified (GM) corn (NK 603, MON 810, MON 863) present in food and feed. Effects were mostly associated with the kidney and liver, the dietary detoxifying organs, although different between the GMOs. Other effects were also noticed in the heart, adrenal glands, spleen and haematopoietic system.
Food certified to USDA National Organic Program standards must be produced and handled without the use of genetic engineering. To learn more about organic standards, visit the Organic Trade Association's (OTA) new consumer web site
"Organic. It's Worth It", call 352.377.6345 or email fog@foginfo.org.