Transcript Main title slide - Mothers are Demystifying Genetic

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
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
What are we going to talk about
today?
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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?
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!
How are genes transferred?
ATCG
Blasted by
particle
gun
*Gene cassette
• Gene cassette coated onto tungsten or gold pellets
• Blasted in using gene gun
• Not precise – random insertion location.
Effect on the DNA
• Mutations (2-4% of DNA)
• Deletion of genes
• Permanently on or off
• Altered gene expression
(up to 5%)
What could go wrong?
• 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.
Rats refused to eat GM tomatoes
Rats were forced fed through
gastric tubes and stomach
washes.
After 28 days
• 7 of 20 rats developed stomach
lesions and bleeding
• Another 7 of 40 died within 2
weeks
• Tomato was approved 1
a
Industry funded study
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
Mice fed GM soy
• Altered young sperm
cells
• Embryos had altered
gene expression
Rat testicles
Control
Control
GM soy fed
GM-soy: disturbance of blood stream
What do GM crops look like?
Non GM canola
GM canola
Can you tell the difference?
Neither can we and thats the problem!
What GM crops are available?
In the Americas:
In Australia:
• Soy, Cotton,
Canola, Corn
• 2 x GM traits:
• Bt cotton in NSW, Qld.
• (Soon) Ht canola in Vic,
NSW.
• SA, WA, Tas have all
extended their GM
bans!
– Herbicide tolerance
(Ht).
– Insecticide
Synthesis (Bt).
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”
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.
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
Anaphylaxis
Admissions
vs
Anaphylaxis Admissions vs GM
Crop
Approvals
GM Crop Approvals
Is there a link
between allergy
increases and
the introduction
of GM foods?
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.
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.
Questions we are entitled to ask
• Why haven’t studies showing adverse health effects of GM
foods in animals been repeated?
• 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?
Being a food detective
The supermarket challenge
Are any of these foods GM?
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
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
How can I avoid GM foods?
• Eat unprocessed foods – ‘make your own’ out of
lovely Australian ingredients
– Except for cottonseed oil and soon canola
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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!
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
‘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
Our food, our right, our
responsibility
Never doubt that a small group of
thoughtful, committed citizens can
change the world
Margaret Mead, Anthropologist