NFA’s Guide to Health & Healing

NewsTarget.com

Originally published March 9 2007 SDA approves mass planting of GM rice made with human genes

by David Gutierrez

(NewsTarget) For the first time, the USDA has given preliminary approval for large-scale planting of a genetically engineered food crop containing human genes. The rice grains, produced by California-based Ventria Bioscience, synthesize a human immune protein. The public comment period for this decision lasts until March 30, after which the decision will be finalized.

Jump directly to: conventional view | alternative view | resources | bottom line

What you need to know - Conventional View

• The USDA has tentatively approved a petition by Ventria to plant up to 3,200 acres of the modified rice in Geary County, Kan. If the approval stands, Ventria will begin by planting 450 acres this spring.

• Previously, Ventria had sought to grow the rice in Missouri, but the plan was abandoned when Anheuser-Busch Companies Inc. threatened to boycott all rice from the state. Anheuser-Busch, a beer maker, is the country’s foremost buyer of rice.

• Anheuser-Busch had the same concern as many critics of genetically engineered plants, which is that genes from engineered varieties may spread to and “genetically pollute” non-engineered or even wild relatives of the plants.

• Critics of the USDA’s decision have expressed concern that genetic pollution in this case could cause potentially dangerous pharmacological proteins to contaminate the food supply. The same day that the USDA gave the new rice the green light, it announced that rice seed in Arkansas had become contaminated by a different genetically engineered strain not approved for consumption. This was discovered while investigating the widespread contamination of rice in the U.S. with yet another genetically modified strain.

• According to Ventria, the genetically engineered rice could allow the cheap production of immune proteins that have been shown to help children recover faster from severe diarrhea. It is seeking FDA approval to add the protein to foods such as yogurt and granola.

• Quote: “This is not a product that everyone would want to consume. It is unwise to produce drugs in plants outdoors.” - Jane Rissler, Union of Concerned Scientists

What you need to know - Alternative View

Statements and opinions by Mike Adams, author for Truth Publishing

• These experiments with genetically modified crops are, in my view, extremely dangerous and may ultimately lead to a genetic Chernobyl that could devastate the U.S. food supply. Such crops should never be allowed to be planted in the open.

• In giving this preliminary approval, the USDA seems to be once again leaning towards protecting corporate profits rather than public health. The motives of a regulatory agency that would allow such crops to be planted in open fields are highly questionable.

Resources you need to know

• Union of Concerned Scientists (http://www.ucsusa.org)

• Ventria Bioscience (http://www.ventria.com)

• USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service public comment notice (http://www.aphis.usda.gov/brs/fedregister/BRS_20070228a.pdf)

• More about genetically modified foods (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetically_modified_foods)

Bottom line

• The USDA has given preliminary approval for the planting of rice engineered to produce human immune proteins, and the agency will accept public comments on the decision until March 30.

[originally posted on NFA on 3-9-2007]

http://www.foodnews.org/

Why Should You Care About Pesticides?

There is growing consensus in the scientific community that small doses of pesticides and other chemicals can adversely affect people, especially during vulnerable periods of fetal development and childhood when exposures can have long lasting effects. Because the toxic effects of pesticides are worrisome, not well understood, or in some cases completely unstudied, shoppers are wise to minimize exposure to pesticides whenever possible.

Will Washing and Peeling Help?

Nearly all of the data used to create these lists already considers how people typically wash and prepare produce (for example, apples are washed before testing, bananas are peeled). While washing and rinsing fresh produce may reduce levels of some pesticides, it does not eliminate them. Peeling also reduces exposures, but valuable nutrients often go down the drain with the peel. The best option is to eat a varied diet, wash all produce, and choose organic when possible to reduce exposure to potentially harmful chemicals.

How This Guide Was Developed

The produce ranking was developed by analysts at the not-for-profit Environmental Working Group (EWG) based on the results of nearly 43,000 tests for pesticides on produce collected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration between 2000 and 2004. A detailed description of the criteria used in developing the rankings is available as well as a full list of fresh fruits and vegetables that have been tested (see below).

EWG is a not-for-profit environmental research organization dedicated to improving public health and protecting the environment by reducing pollution in air, water and food. For more information please visit www.ewg.org.

Partial List: (for the full list, visit: http://www.foodnews.org/)

[originally posted on NFA on 3-30-2007]

NewsTarget.com

Originally published March 9 2007 SDA approves mass planting of GM rice made with human genes

by David Gutierrez

(NewsTarget) For the first time, the USDA has given preliminary approval for large-scale planting of a genetically engineered food crop containing human genes. The rice grains, produced by California-based Ventria Bioscience, synthesize a human immune protein. The public comment period for this decision lasts until March 30, after which the decision will be finalized.

Jump directly to: conventional view | alternative view | resources | bottom line

What you need to know - Conventional View

• The USDA has tentatively approved a petition by Ventria to plant up to 3,200 acres of the modified rice in Geary County, Kan. If the approval stands, Ventria will begin by planting 450 acres this spring.

• Previously, Ventria had sought to grow the rice in Missouri, but the plan was abandoned when Anheuser-Busch Companies Inc. threatened to boycott all rice from the state. Anheuser-Busch, a beer maker, is the country’s foremost buyer of rice.

• Anheuser-Busch had the same concern as many critics of genetically engineered plants, which is that genes from engineered varieties may spread to and “genetically pollute” non-engineered or even wild relatives of the plants.

• Critics of the USDA’s decision have expressed concern that genetic pollution in this case could cause potentially dangerous pharmacological proteins to contaminate the food supply. The same day that the USDA gave the new rice the green light, it announced that rice seed in Arkansas had become contaminated by a different genetically engineered strain not approved for consumption. This was discovered while investigating the widespread contamination of rice in the U.S. with yet another genetically modified strain.

• According to Ventria, the genetically engineered rice could allow the cheap production of immune proteins that have been shown to help children recover faster from severe diarrhea. It is seeking FDA approval to add the protein to foods such as yogurt and granola.

• Quote: “This is not a product that everyone would want to consume. It is unwise to produce drugs in plants outdoors.” - Jane Rissler, Union of Concerned Scientists

What you need to know - Alternative View

Statements and opinions by Mike Adams, author for Truth Publishing

• These experiments with genetically modified crops are, in my view, extremely dangerous and may ultimately lead to a genetic Chernobyl that could devastate the U.S. food supply. Such crops should never be allowed to be planted in the open.

• In giving this preliminary approval, the USDA seems to be once again leaning towards protecting corporate profits rather than public health. The motives of a regulatory agency that would allow such crops to be planted in open fields are highly questionable.

Resources you need to know

• Union of Concerned Scientists (http://www.ucsusa.org)

• Ventria Bioscience (http://www.ventria.com)

• USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service public comment notice (http://www.aphis.usda.gov/brs/fedregister/BRS_20070228a.pdf)

• More about genetically modified foods (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetically_modified_foods)

Bottom line

• The USDA has given preliminary approval for the planting of rice engineered to produce human immune proteins, and the agency will accept public comments on the decision until March 30.

[originally posted on NFA on 3-9-2007]