GE-free NZ gets most facts wrong on GE soy imports

GE-free NZ gets most facts wrong on GE soy imports

GE-Free NZ should get its facts right before it calls for a ban on GE soy imports the Chairman of the Life Sciences Network, Dr William Rolleston said today.

“First factual error: The EU does not require animals which are fed on GM feed to be labelled – this is an absolute misrepresentation of a proposal to label the feed itself, but only if it contains more than 0.9% GM content.

“It is also important to note that the proposed labelling requirement is not as a warning label but as a product identification and has nothing to do with the issue of DNA transfer in the gut - after all the entire digestive process is about transferring fragments of DNA in the gut as energy. All the scientific research done so far shows that food derived from transgenic crops behaves exactly the same way in the guts of animals and humans as non-GM crops.

“Second factual error: The GE soy which was brought into New Zealand came as meal not as beans and therefore was not viable and not in breach of any importation requirements.

“Third factual error: There are no credible scientific warnings about human health impacts of GM products which have been approved for distribution in the food chain.

“It is highly irresponsible to make unsubstantiated claims designed to undermine public confidence in food and feed safety regulation,” concluded Dr Rolleston.

GE-free NZ sets out concerns about soy imports

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