In This
Issue:
'Golden Mustard'
to Combat Vitamin A Deficiency
First
it was Golden Rice. Now plans are underway to develop a "golden
mustard" that will yield cooking oil high in beta-carotene
(pro-vitamin A).
The Tata
Energy Research Institute (TERI) in New Delhi, India, led
by Senior Fellow and Dean of Bioresources and Biotechnology Vibha
Dawan, believes that the successful development and adoption
of the enhanced oil from "golden mustard" has the potential
to help some 18% of Indian children suffering from vitamin A
deficiency. Mustard oil is commonly used for food preparation
and cooking, particularly in northern and eastern India.
The
World Health Organization estimates that approximately 250 million
people suffer significant illnesses, including vision impairment,
inability to absorb proteins and nutrients, and reduced immune
function because of vitamin A deficiency.
Collaborating
with TERI are the Michigan
State University (MSU) and Monsanto.
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) gave a grant
to MSU's Agricultural Biotechnology Support Project to work with
TERI and Monsanto in the adoption and transfer of technology to
produce the beta-carotene enhanced oilseed mustard plants.
"Biotechnology
offers tremendous potential to address several of the health and
nutritional problems that India faces today. I welcome this partnership
that will contribute toward alleviating the deep-seated problem
of vitamin A deficiency, especially among women and children. We
recognize that multi-party partnership is necessary to take this
technology further," said R. K. Pachauri, TERI Director.
Monsanto
President and Chief Executive Officer Hendrik Verfaillie announced
this collaboration as a concrete proof of the New Monsanto Pledge,
which includes a commitment to bring the knowledge and advantages
of all forms of agriculture to farmers in the developing world.
The company will facilitate technology sharing and agricultural
collaborations with public institutions, non-profit groups and
local industry around the world.
Monsanto
has been working since the mid-1990s to enhance the carotenoid
levels of oilseed crops, particularly beta-carotene in the seed
of canola (also known as oilseed rape). Researchers have been able
to achieve greater concentrations of beta-carotene in oil from
crushed canola seed than in any currently available oil or vegetable.
In March 1999, Monsanto announced it would share at no cost this
gene transfer technology, and simultaneously joined into a public
and private sector partnership with USAID and the Global Vitamin
A Alliance.¨
Contact:
Tata
Energy Research Institute
2000, Darbari Seth Block, Habitat Place, Lodhi Road
New Delhi - 110 003, India
Tel: (+91 11) 468 2100
Fax: (+91 11) 468 2144 and 468 2145
URL: http://www.teriin.org
GM Food
is Safe Says AMA
The American
Medical Association (AMA) has accepted a report by its Council
on Scientific Affairs that says that GM foods are safe to eat
and that there is no justification for special labelling of such
foods. The report was considered at the AMA's meeting in Orlando,
Florida, in early December.
The
report (CSA report 10: Genetically Modified Crops and Foods) reviews
the current regulatory framework for genetically modified foods,
and evaluates the safety, public health and environmental impacts
of genetically modified foods. The issue of labelling is also addressed
and recent policy statements and position papers are reviewed.
The
differences in how European and American consumers view this issue
are also discussed. The report makes several recommendations: that
federal regulatory bodies continue their oversight of the use of
genetically-altered foods ; that research focus on possible allergic
reactions to genetically-modified foods as these products are developed;
and that the AMA should not support a moratorium on planting genetically
modified crops.
Commenting
on the report, Michael Williams, chairman of the council is reported
as saying, "Many genetically-modified food products derived
from corn and soybeans, in particular, have been on the shelves
of United States grocery stores....without any apparent unintended
or ill effects." In the USA GM foods have been on sale for
more than 5 years and in general they have been accepted by consumers,
in contrast to Europe.
The
Food and Drug Administration strongly supported the content and
recommendations of the report. The FDA is reported as working with
manufacturers to develop voluntary labelling of genetically modified
foods.¨
Contact:
American
Medical Association
515 North State Street
Chicago, IL 60610, USA
Tel: +1 (312) 464 5000
URL: http://www.ama-assn.org
US Survey
Reveals Divergent Views Regarding GM Foods
American
consumers have long been eating genetically modified (GM) foods
but when asked if they would eat them, responses differed. According
to the Oxygen/Markle Pulse, a joint project of Oxygen Media and
the Markle Foundation, a nationally representative telephone survey
showed that only 18% felt that they were very informed about GM
foods, although they are concerned about possible risks.
Cheryl
Mills, Oxygen's senior VP of corporate policy and public programming,
revealed other findings based on interviews with 2,248 men and
women between April 20 and May 10, 2000:
-
Men
and women differ in their feelings toward genetically modified
food. Only half of women surveyed (50%) would eat genetically
modified foods, compared with 71% of men. Fewer women (37%)
than men (59%) would give genetically modified foods to their
children, and 47% of women say they are willing to pay more
for fruits and vegetables that have not been genetically altered,
compared with 35% of men.
-
Americans
are evenly divided over whether genetically modified foods
are healthy. Some 43% of Americans believe genetically modified
foods are just as healthy as organic foods. Less than half
believe genetically modified foods are less healthy.
-
Americans
want genetically modified foods labelled and tested, but do
not agree on who should be responsible for it. The majority
(85%) support the labelling of genetically modified foods,
and 88% support testing.
Cheryl
Mills added that lack of knowledge, combined with a lack of uniform
labelling and testing, is causing many people to worry about what
they eat and what they feed their children."¨
Contact:
Oxygen
Media, Inc.
75 9th Ave, New York, NY 10011, USA
URL: http://www.pulse.org |
