Health
risks require immediate recall and import ban
06 September 2006 - London,
United Kingdom — The genetic engineering industry
sank to a new low when it was revealed recently
that US company Bayer's field trials of genetically
engineered (GE) rice had contaminated rice exports.
Japan moved fast and banned the US rice from coming
into its ports. The EU quickly followed and placed
import restrictions and testing regimes in place.
Now, Greenpeace research has uncovered a new example
of contamination of the world's most important
staple food.
We recently uncovered, and independently
verified, that illegal GE rice from China has
contaminated food products in France, Germany
and the UK. We've notified authorities that the
illegal GE rice poses serious health risks and
we're calling upon European governments to take
immediate action to protect consumers.
Greenpeace offices and Friends
of the Earth in the UK tested samples of rice
products such as vermicelli, rice sticks and other
processed foods. Five positive samples were found
containing an illegal GE organism not approved
anywhere in the world. However this may only be
the tip of the iceberg. Rice products are included
in everything from baby food to yoghurt.
"These findings are shocking
and should trigger high-level responses",
said Jeremy Tager, GE rice campaigner, Greenpeace
International. "Consumers should not be left
swallowing experimental GE rice that is risky
to their health."
The illegal GE rice, genetically
engineered to be resistant to insects, contains
a protein or fused protein (Cry1Ac) that has reportedly
induced allergic-like reactions in mice. Three
independent scientists have issued a statement
backing the health concerns we raised.
Greenpeace International is
calling for immediate worldwide recall, measures
to ensure no further contaminated rice enters
the EU and the urgent implementation of a preventative
screening system for countries with high contamination
risks. Demanding GE-free certification for food
from countries that grow and produce GE crops
is reasonable, cost effective, and necessary to
protect Europe's consumers.
Like Bayer's illegal GE rice
in the US, this recent rice contamination in China
began with field trials; the rice is not currently
approved for commercial growing because of mounting
concerns over its safety.
"Innocent consumers again
become the victims," says Tager. "Once
illegal GE crops are in the food chain, removing
them takes enormous effort and cost. It is easier
to prevent contamination in the first place,"
he concluded.
Greenpeace campaigns for GE-free
crop and food production that is grounded in the
principles of sustainability, protection of biodiversity
and providing all people to have access to safe
and nutritious food. Genetic engineering is an
unnecessary and unwanted technology that contaminates
the environment, threatens biodiversity and poses
unacceptable risks to health.
