The wonders of GM crops

GM crop failure a warning, says US adviser

A former agricultural adviser to US presidents says the failure of a genetically modified field pea trial should act as a warning for future GM crop testing.

The 10-year CSIRO trial was abandoned when tests found the peas were making mice seriously ill.

Dr Charles Benbrook, who advised presidents Carter, Bush senior, Reagan and Clinton says the field pea trial failure shows current GM crop testing is grossly inadequate.

"I don't believe that this new study proves that all genetically engineered food is posing a great threat to people but it certainly confirms the need to go back and look at the major food crops," he said.

He has called for changes to the Gene Technology Act, which is currently under review, to tighten GM crop regulation and increase scientific scrutiny of potential commercial varieties.

But the Grains Council's David Ginns says the failed field pea trial was an isolated case, and the fact health concerns were discovered shows current monitoring is adequate.

"It picked up a problem early and the project was terminated on the basis that there were concerns raised in the trial."

Grand! After years telling us how wonderful GM really is and how we should all accept it instead of refusing it, they realise that all is not well. Given that they have found that there is cross fertilisation between GM brassicas and other brassicas, despite their promises that such an event would not occur, isn't it time to properly inform the consumers just what the effects of all this GM really are? Unfortunately most medical and GM trials are carried out by the companies producing and promoting the products, so everything always comes up smelling of roses. And most governments do not check the results. Consumers only realise that there is no medical miracle or 100% safe drug when things start going wrong. In the case of GM, just what are we putting in our bodies? Aren't the 100' s of pesticides they spray over crops enough? I for one am no longer buying Monsanto products.

Then again German TV had a test session recently where they discovered that most vegetable and fruit is contaminated, even some organic ones. That expensive fruit & veg does not mean healthier. In fact one of the best tested was a German discounter. Put this together with all the hormones and antibiotics given to animals, the meat marked as being unfit for human consumption which is found in supermarkets, and we are heading for a good time. Breastfeeding, although still recommeded, has also been found to be a way of passing on chemicals, pesticides, etc to the very young. What does it do to their system?