This newspage was shut down in March 2000. It covers the dramatic period beginning in the end of 1998 through 1999 when the GE food market gradually shifted from an expansive phase to global decrease of demand, for more, see "Brief overview of what the newspage covered".

Chief Editor: Jaan Suurküla M.D.  

To facilitate rapid reading, we have recently begun to mark key parts with bold and/or italics (Nov 1999).

[Added: 09/03 2000]

WWF releases study shows GE not living up to promises

Using data from the USDA, other American agricultural surveys, and emerging laboratory studies, the WWF has compiled results showing that the promise of pesticide and herbicide reduction from biotechnological crops has not been fulfilled.

The WWF concludes that due to increased application of herbicides on herbicide-resistant crops, lack of need for corn borer protection in many areas Bt corn is planted, the use of refuges to avoid emerging pest resistance, the problem of genetic transfer to weeds, and the negative impact of Bt crops on beneficials, that GE is not living up to its agicultural promise.

WWF urges a switch to integrated pest management strategies and organic growing techniques. The complete text of the study is available at: WWF Report: GE & Pesticides.PDF.

Source: WWF Press Release, Toronto, March 7, 2000. [End]

[Added: 09/03 2000]

Agriculture groups call for mandatory labelling, liability

A group of American agricultural and rural groups, the Midwest Sustainable Agriculture Working Group, is calling for mandatory labelling of GE foods. They also way companies to assume damage liability and are asking for other steps to protect farmers and consumers.

Source: Chicago (Dow Jones), March 1, 2000. [End]

[Added: 09/03 2000]

Boston City Council calls for labelling, moratorium

Citing the lack of safety proofs, the low level of federal testing, the class action lawsuit against the Food and Drug Administration, and the number of scientists on record saying that GE food is significantly different from traditional breeding, the Boston City Council adopted a resolution calling for mandatory labelling of GE foods, a moratorium on new approvals, and a declaration that March 26, 2000 is "You are what you eat Day" in the City of Boston.

Source: Boston City Council, March 1, 2000. [End]

[Added: 28/02 2000]

British PM reverses stance on GE foods

In a dramatic change of opinion, Tony Blair has gone from saying that GE foods were so safe he ate them himself, to admitting they may damage human health. From showing frustration a year ago at "pressure groups" criticizing GE food, he now says that "there's no doubt that there is a potential for harm, both in terms of human safety and in the diversity of our environment, from GM [genetically modified] food and crops."

Both senior government sources and environmentalists say this is a turning point for the government's position on biotechnology. Blair says that his government is proceeding "very cautiously indeed ... Jobs and profit will never be more important ... than concern over human health and our environment."

Source: The Independent, London, 27 February 2000. [End]

[Added: 25/02 2000]

Alliance for Bio-integrity lawsuit uncovers FDA documents

The lawsuit launched against the FDA by a coalition of scientists and religious leaders has uncovered numerous internal documents from the FDA, in which its own scientists express concerns about its safety and the advisability of classifying GE foods as "susbstantially equivalent" to conventional foods. To view a selection of these documents, visit http://www.biointegrity.org/. The Alliance executive director, Stephen Druker, J.D., says in a paper that: "No genetically engineered food has yet satisfied the criteria mandated by U.S. law."

Examples of internal FDA statements uncovered by the lawsuit include: "The processes of genetic engineering and traditional breeding are different, and according to the technical experts in the agency, they lead to different risks." (Dr. Linda Kahl), and "There is a profound difference between the types of unexpected effects from traditional breeding and genetic engineering ..." (Dr. Louis Pribyl)

Source: Alliance for Bio-Integrity website.[End]

[Added: 25/02 2000]

RAFI says terminator seeds on fast track

In a report from Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI), it appears that "terminator" and "traitor" technologies have not been halted, in spite of promises from Monsanto and AstraZeneca to not commercialize them. Terminator technology produces only sterile seeds, and traitor technology has inserted genes that kill plants unless specific chemicals are applied while they grow.

In the report, Harry Collins from Delta & Pine Land Seed Co. is quoted saying: "We've continued right on with work on the Technology Protection System [Terminator]. We never really slowed down. We're on target, moving ahead to commercialize it. We never really backed off."

RAFI says that in view of recently announced mergers (Monsanto and Pharmacia & Upjohn; AstraZeneca and Novartis), and ongoing field tests, they expect applications for the commercialization of both technologies to be forthcoming. According to RAFI, over 30 patents for these technologies are collectively held by the so-called Gene Giants.

Source: RAFI website, 25 February, 2000. [End]

US Health Food manufacturer comes out pro-GE

Lumen Foods, which makes health foods and "vegetarian jerkies" says that Greenpeace and other anti-GE activists are wrong. They comment that the anti-GE campaign is simply a fundraising issue. "There is no credible scientist in the world today who can show that so-called genetically modified foods are any less healthful . . . The FDA, USDA and EPA have all done exhaustive research into their safety," says Lumen Food President Greg Caton. The company has set up a section of their website to "educate" consumers. Comments on this stance can be sent to caton@ifu.net.

Source: Lake Charles, La.; Business Wire, February 22, 2000[End]

[Added: 25/02 2000]

Respected Indian scientist criticizes "golden rice"

Dr. Vandana Shiva, a well-known Indian scientist and activist, has said in a paper that rice which has been bioengineered to produce high levels of beta carotene is potentially dangerous, and does not address the causes of blindness in developing countries.

"The 'selling' of Vitamin A rice as a miracle cure for blindness is based on blindness to alternatives for removing vitamin A deficiency and blindness to the unknown risks of producing Vitamin A through genetic engineering." Shiva says.

Dr. Shiva points out that much better sources of vitamin A stem from agricultural biodiversity, including planting green leafy vegetables. She adds that such sources have already been diminished by the Green Revolultion, and that "golden rice" is simply an extension of the problem. She also raises the concern that in countries where rice is a dietary staple, vitamin A overdosing is a severe potential health hazard.

Source: Vandana Shiva paper, posted 14 February, 2000[End]

[Added: 15/02 2000]

Canola superweeds found in Alberta, Canada

It appears that volunteer weeds in an Alberta farmer's fields are now triple-resistant to the herbicides Roundup, Liberty and Pursuit. Tony Huether planted three types of GE herbicide-resistant canola in 1997 in two fields 30 meters apart. In 1998 he found some canola that had developed resistance to Roundup, and the next year triple resistance was confirmed. It appears that the different strains of GE canola have cross-pollinated opportunistically. It is recommended now that farmers leave at least 200 meters between GE canola and other varieties to prevent further gene transfers. Volunteer canola is already a large weed problem for prairie farmers practicing crop rotation.

Source: Western Producer, February 10, 2000. [End]

[Added: 15/02 2000]

Japan drafts manual for GE grain imports

Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is adapting a manual that will determine the method for evaluating the percentage of genetically modified food in imported crops. This is particularly directed at corn and soy imported from North America. The Ministry will require records of GE content for production, cleaning and shipment for grain elevators in Japan. The manual allows up to 5% inclusion of GE soy but has no standard yet for corn.

Source: Nikkei Sangyo newspaper, January 31, 2000. [End]

[Added: 08/02 2000]

Frito-Lay joins GE ingredient ban

A major American snack food manufacturer, Frito-Lay, which makes Doritos and Fritos, has asked farmers not to grow genetically engineered corn. "We felt at this time it's appropriate to ask our growers not to sell us genetically altered corn," said spokeswoman Lynn Markley. Frito-Lay is a subsidiary of PepsiCo, which is being lobbied to stop using genetically modified ingredients in all its products. Frito-Lay is including the proviso in contracts it is sending out to hundreds of its farmer suppliers.

(Source: Associated Press, February 2, 2000) [End]

[Added: 08/02 2000]

Brazil agricultural inspectors raiding farms for GE soy

Farm inspectors in Brazil's southern state of Rio Grande do Sul are searching fields and storehouses for GE crops which have been grown contrary to the government's ban. The inspectors, using imported test kits that can identify Monsanto's Round-Up Ready soy plants and seeds, respond to tips phoned into the government's GE hotline. The GE soy is currently banned throughout Brazil following a court order. Monsanto is appealing the order, and is also in the process of building a plant to make Roundup and other herbicides in the Brazilian state of Bahia. Before the court order, Monsanto imported 300,000 50 kg bags of seeds to Brazil.

The fight in Brazil is largely between Monsanto and the governor of Rio Grande do Sul, Olivio Dutra, who wants farmers to go organic. However, it's rumored that up to a third of farmers in the state have defied the ban this year, planting GE seed smuggled in from Argentina; over 80% of Argentina's soy crop is genetically engineered. The rumors have led to some European importers requiring that none of the soy they bring in from Brazil can come from Rio Grande do Sul.

(Source: The Guardian, February 2, 2000) [End]

[Added: 08/02 2000]

Canadian group of scientists establishes GE watchdog

Dr. Ann Clark, a professor at the University of Guelph in Ontario, announced the formation of a group called GE Alert, which consists of scientists, academics and agricultural professionals, none of whom have connections to biotechnology companies.

Along with the announcement, Dr. Clark released a paper titled "Food Safety of GM Crops in Canada: Toxicity and Allergenicity," which assesses the Health Canada mechanisms for testing genetically engineered foods. Dr. Clark found that 70% of 40 of the 42 GE crops approved for use in Canada were not tested for toxicity, and none of them were tested through lab or feeding trials for allergenicity. (The two other crops approved for use in Canada did not yet have posted information.)

Details of the group and its studies as they are released can be found at www.canadians.org/ge-alert.

(Source: Council of Canadians Press Release, January 28, 2000) [End]

[Added: 01/02 2000]

Agreement finally reached in Biosafety Protocol talks

After marathon negotiations, 130 countries signed a pact permitting countries to restrict GE crop imports. The deadline had already been passed but talks continued all night Friday in Montreal, Canada. The United States, which had previously resisted all attempts to restrict biotechnology trade barriers, eventually agreed to sign the treaty. The agreement allows countries to require labelling of products that "may contain GE ingredients", and to use the "precautionary principle" to restrict imports even if they have not yet been proven unsafe.

(Source: Multiple sources, January 30, 2000) [End]

[Added: 01/02 2000]

Canadian scientists form independent watchdog

Ten scientists and academics publicly announced the formation of "GE-Alert", to monitor Health Canada's GE testing and approval process. Dr. Ann Clark, author of "Food Safety of GM Crops in Canada", said that toxicity and allergenicity have been overlooked in Health Canada testing, adding that other senior scientists were involved in GE-Alert but could not be identified in order to protect their jobs.

(Source: Press release, January 29, 2000) [End]

[Added: 01/02 2000]

Asian increasing food biotechnology research

Willy de Greef, a spokesman for Novartis, reports that Singapore is already strong in the field of medical biotechnology, and that China and India are pursuing research in engineering rice, tobacco and some fruits. Novartis has requested the use of their findings in its own products.

(Source: Agence France Presse English, January 27, 2000) [End]

[Added: 01/02 2000]

Canadian farmers sold contaminated seed in 1997

Recently uncovered Canadian government documents state that "seriously contaminated" GE canola seeds were sold to farmers in 1997 and later recalled. The recall caused changes in the regulatory requirements; the biotech companies say the recall proves the regulation is adequate, whereas environmental groups believe this incident demonstrates that government regulators rely too strongly on company self-inspection.

(Source: The Guardian, January 27, 2000) [End]

[Added: 01/02 2000]

UK food standards agency backs labelling campaign

The Chairman, Sir John Krebs, of the new food standards agency agreed that mandatory labelling of GE foods was needed for consumers' right to choice in their food. Food industry spokespeople disagreed, saying they would fight both voluntary and mandatory labelling.

(Source: The Guardian, London, January 27, 2000) [End]

[Added: 01/02 2000]

USA seed company suing Mexican bean exporters

POD-NERS, L.L.C. claims the patent rights to a yellow-colored bean and charges that the Mexican beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) infringe its patent rights. The company's owner imported Mexican beans to the USA in 1994, planted and selected for several generations, then patented the resulting seed in 1996. The yellow beans have been grown in Mexico for centuries. The Mexican government has just announced it will challenge the US patent.

(Source: Rural Advancement Foundation International, January, 2000) [End]

[Added: 01/02 2000]

Food labelling lawsuit to go to Chilean Supreme Court

A lawsuit is being pursued to the Chilean Supreme Court concerning the labelling of GE foods. A lower court decision on January 14 stated that labelling is not required.

(Source: Santiago Times, January 26, 2000) [End]

[Added: 01/02 2000]

Canadian health food stores present petition

The Canadian Health Food Association presented a 31,000-person petition to the Minister of Agriculture, Lyle Vanclief, calling for mandatory labelling of GE foods. The signatures were collected at local stores.

(Webposted January 25, 2000) [End]

[Added: 01/02 2000]

Study shows threat from GE fish

Purdue University has conducted scientific modelling demonstrating that growth-enhanced GE fish could eradicate large populations of wild fish, by attracting more mates and quickly spreading their characteristics among the population. Subsequently, however, those offspring have reduced reproductive capability and could therefore reduce the health of the entire fish population, creating a "trojan effect."

(Source: Greenpeace, January 20, 2000) [End]

[Added: 01/02 2000]

New strain of GE rice will contain beta carotene

Swiss scientists have spliced three genes into rice that will enrich its production of beta carotene, the source of Vitamin A. This strain is being called "golden rice" because the new genes give it a yellow colour. The new rice is not expected to be on the market for several years.

(Source: Science, January 13, 2000) [End]

[Added: 02/01 2000]

Activists disrupt Confederation of Indian Industry meeting

Three protesters managed to enter a CII meeting and interrupted the session just after World Trade Organization representative Mike Moore finished speaking. The activists delivered an open letter to the WTO, calling for an end to biological patent laws that facilitate the "steal, grab and plunder of biological wealth and traditional knowledge from India."

(New Delhi, January 11, 2000) [End]

[Added: 01/02 2000]

Japan to start labelling GE foods

In Japan, 30 GE foods, including soy products such as tofu and fermented beans ("natto") will be mandatorily labelled, starting in April, 2001. Under the Japanese Food Sanitation Law, manufacturers are responsible for food safety, but the Health and Welfare Ministry monitors genetically engineered food. The Ministry has approved 22 GE foods to date.

(Source: Japanese Ministry of International Trade and Industry journal, January 5, 2000) [End]

[Added: 01/02 2000]

Two largest USA natural food retailers going GE-free

Whole Foods Market and Wild Oats Markets are both removing GE products from their stock this year. They are targetting most products containing GE corn, soy, or canola oil ingredients. ''There's an absolute anger among customers that foods are being genetically modified and they don't know what ingredients are in their foods,'' says mMargaret Wittenberg, vice president at Whole Foods, which has 103 stores in 22 states.

(Source: USA Today, January 4, 2000) [End]

[Added: 10/01 2000]

Two major US food retailers go GE free

The two largest natural foods retailers in the US have declared that they will get rid of most of their genetically engineered foods, including canola, corn and soy oil as well as other ingredients. They also warn manufacturers and supermarkets that an increased consumer resistance to GE can be expected. The retailers are Whole Foods Market and Wild Oats Markets. Margaret Wittenberg, vice president at Whole Foods has found that there consumers are angry about not knowing what is in the food. (Source: James Cox, USA TODAY - Jan 4, 2000)  [End]

[Added: 09/01 2000]

Virus genes from GE plants might be give rise to new animal viruses

By virtue of the techniques used in genetic engineering, almost all GE plants contain virus genes. It is known that these inserted genes may recombine with a virus infecting the plant, creating new viruses. If these can next infect vertebrates, virus genes in GE plants might give rise to new human viral diseases.

This threat does not seem negligible, considering the report that a plant virus has been transferred to an animal, and recombined with an animal virus, according to scientists in Australian Natinal University, Canberra. They speculated that this host switch might have occurred when an animal was exposed to sap from an infected plant. It seems that this host switch occurred first, then the viral recombination occurred in the animal.

Leading South African supermarket starts to go GE free.

(Source: Press release from South African Federation Against Genetic Engineering, Cape Town, South Africa, December 21, 1999) [End]

[Added: 03/01 2000]

American shareholders demand a GE ban

Specific American companies being targetted include Coca-cola, Heinz, Safeway (North American grocery chain), Archer Daniels Midland (food ingredients), General Mills, Pepsi-Co, Philip Morris, Quaker Oats, Sara Lee, and McDonald's. Life science groups are also included; in America Monsanto, American Home Products, Dow Chemical and DuPont and in Europe, Hoechst, Novartis, Rhone Poulenc and Schering. Other European food companies such as Diageo, Pillsbury and Burger King are also on the list.

(Source: The Guardian (Finance), December 20, 1999) [End]

[Added: 03/01 2000]

Italy suspends the use of seven GE food products

(Source: Reuters, Rome, December 17, 1999) [End]

[Added: 03/01 2000]

Brazil pays farmers to destroy GE soybeans

Brazil's agriculture secretary has announced that the state will offer farmers special low-interest loans to rip out GE soybeans while they are still seedlings. Brazil estimates that up to eight percent of next year's crop could be transgenic, due to growers purchasing GE seed on a growing black market. The government has launched an intensive campaign, including radio and television ads stating that GE crops will be torched, and a special "Dial Transgenics" telephone line for farmers to inform on growers planting GE seed.

[Added: 03/01 2000]

UK retailers moving out of GE-fed animal products

Direct consumer consumption of GE soy and maize in Europe has fallen drastically, but large amounts are still imported for animal feed. It is expected that this growing demand for non-GE fed animals will have an effect on GE crop sales from North America to Europe. In 1998, 6.5 million metric tonnes of US soy was imported into the EU, primarily for animal feed.

(Source: Greenpeace survey of major UK retailers, December, 1999) [End]

[Added: 22/12 1999]

Leading Japanese foodstuff makers go GE free

Japanese foodstuff makers are shifting away from GMO maize/corn and soybeans in favor of wheat and other grains.

For example, Nisshin Flour, Japan's largest flour processor, will change to using non-GMO wheat in stead of cornstarch, soy protein and soy powder. Ajinomoto, best known as the world's leading maker of flavor-enhancing monosodium glutamate, has become the first Japanese company to announce it will use no GMO in any of its products. The company will henceforth cease using genetically modified soy for its meat products and fishmeat products. Fuji Oil, the major edible oil company, will follow suit. (Source: Dec. 19 issue of Nihon Keizai Shimbun ("Nikkei") (Japanese text only)) [End]

[Added: 16/12 1999]

Lawsuit against Monsanto and other food biotech companies

On Tuesday 14 dec, the Foundation on Economic Trends and the National Family Farm Coalition in the United States filed a lawsuit, accusing food biotech corporations for establishing a monopoly control over our food system.

"Their operations threaten world food security. This litigation exposes their practices. A victory in this lawsuit will allow the family farmers of the world to retain ownership of their seeds, their farms, and produce a food supply that is safe, adequate, and reasonably priced for all consumers." Full text.  [End]

[Added: 06/12 1999]

UK farmers find new feed alternatives to GM soy

Farmers Weekly reports that lupins are good alternative to soy as a protein source for cattle. New high yielding non-GE lupin varieties have been developed in Germany and will be available in 2000.

Lupins are high in protein and oil, as well as being palatable to stock. They also fix atmospheric nitrogen and improve soil structure. The lupin is also a low input plant making it useful for organic production. Lupin feeding-trial results on cattle and sheep have shown similar animal performance to imported soya-based rations revealing huge potential for protein import substitution. (Source NLP Wessex and Farmers Weekly (UK) 3 December 1999)

[Added: 01/12 1999]

Evidence of high-level industry interference in regulatory process

"Biotech giant Monsanto Company struck a private deal with senior federal food regulators that resulted in the swift approval of two new kinds of genetically modified potatoes, according to an internal Health Canada document obtained by the Citizen.......Details of the deal and how it was made point to evidence of high-level industry interference in a regulatory process that the government has defended as impartial and rigorous, said Michele Brill-Edwards, a former Health Canada drug regulator and critic of the system." (Source: Ottawa Citizen November 29, 1999 Page A3). Full text.  [End]

[Added: 01/12 1999]

Canadian French-Fry giant stops using GE potatoes