From foodconsumer.org
Genetically modified corn may enter New Zealand's food supply
By John Soltes
Jun 18, 2006, 21:19
June 18 (foodconsumer.org) - A type of genetically modified corn with higher levels of the amino acid lysine may be approved by the Food Standards Australia/New Zealand board (FSANZ). The questionable corn and its possible health risk have raised concern for many.
The genetically modified corn, called High-Lysine Corn LY038, is manufactured by the Monsanto Corporation, a giant in the biotech world. If approved, the corn will be used in animal feed in New Zealand, and possibly even the human food supply.
Lysine, the amino acid found in High-Lysine Corn LY038, is not necessarily a health risk. However, when the amino acid is coupled with sugar (as is often the case in many corn dishes), there can be many health risks.
The lysine and sugar combine to form a compound called Advanced Glycation End produce (AGE), which causes many serious diseases including diabetes, kidney damage, cancer, heart problems, and Alzheimer’s.
The Center for Research in Biosafety is demanding that FSANZ reconsider its approval of the genetically modified corn for animal feed.
Monsanto claims its new genetically modified corn will only be used for animal feed. However, members of the Center for Research in Biosafety and others in the health community believe the animal feed corn may make its way into the human food supply.
Monsanto intends to use the genetically modified corn for animal feed; however, the corporation has applied for approval to use the corn in their human supply as well. The company has asked for this double approval in order to keep both the regular and genetically modified corn together, rather than separate.
Essentially, Monsanto does not want to be held legally responsible if some LY038 makes its way inadvertently into the human food supply.
The Center for Research in Biosafety is not asking for the complete abolition of the genetically modified High-Lysine Corn LY038. Instead, the organization is asking for a delay in its approval, in order to wait for more testing to be performed.
“The key difference between the use of corn as an animal feed and a human food is cooking and processing, and FSANZ has made no attempt to assess food hazards resulting from cooking or processing of LY038," Jack Heinemann, director of the Center for Research in Biosafety and associate professor at the University of Canterbury, said, according to the Scoop news service.
In response to the question about the genetically modified corn being entered into the human food supply, FSANZ states the effect of small amounts of LY038 would be minimal.
New Zealand’s political parties are also chiming in with their opinion on the matter of genetically modified corn making its way into the human food supply.
"Only the New Zealand and Australian Food Safety Ministers can stop this risk to our health by rejecting the recommendation when they meet in Australia shortly," Co-Leader of the Green Party, Jeanette Fitzsimons said, according to a press release.
Sue Kedgley, a spokesperson for the Green Party on issues of health and food safety, believes FSANZ's standards are dipping below the standards of other international health organizations.
"The Center for Research in Biosafety also reports in its submission that FSANZ's standards deviate from the recommendations of international food safety bodies, including the World Health Organization, and from its own internal processes," Kedgley said, according to a press release.
Monsanto is one of the largest biotech corporations in the world. Recently, they reported sales northwards of $2.2 billion. Much of this money comes from Monsanto’s corn production.
For example, Monsanto produces 23.5 percent of the corn found in the United States.
The Center for Research in Biosafety plans on delivering its 90 recommendations to FSANZ shortly.
"FSANZ is obligated to use the best scientific evidence available and conduct a case-by-case assessment. From our point of view, it hasn't consistently done either," Heinemann said, according to the Scoop news service.
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