by Dennis Slotnick, Jul 23, 1999

Local farmers and consumers beware! The biotechnology of Genetically Engineered (GE) foods may at first seem very promising but the long term and allergic reactions have not been thoroughly tested. This is the conclusion of the Natural Law Party of Ohio.

Changing the DNA code of organisms by splicing parts of DNA from other organisms results in transgenic organisms. These organisms can have agricultural and commercial advantages such as disease resistant corn and Roundup Ready soybeans which are resistant to herbicides. The risks may outweigh the advantages.

Different from crossbred organisms, transgenic organisms cross the natural barriers of breeding that have been established by nature for over 3 billion years of evolution. Many scientists are concerned that tampering with natures design is starting to show serious consequences.

Consider these recent news items and studies:

• Forty-four (44)% of Monarch butterflies died from eating milkweed that had been dusted with Bt corn pollen.
• Thirty-seven (37) people have died and 1,500 people permanently disabled from consuming the genetically engineered food supplement, tryptophan, an amino acid that was derived from brazil nuts.
• An article in the Augusta Chronicle (Georgia) January 25, 1999, states that a Canadian research team found that when fed a high dose of rBGH, 20 to 30 percent of male rats develop immunological reactions cysts in the thyroid with potential cancer hazards. The controversial rBGH (bovine growth hormone) is a genetically engineered growth hormone which is injected into dairy cattle to increase milk production.
• The National Pollen Research Unit showed that pollen could travel hundreds of miles and cross pollinate non-GM strains much further than the 2000 meter limit.
• Evidence is now verified that Roundup Ready beans cross pollinate with the non-roundup ready soybeans.

• Congressman Dennis Kucinich of Cleveland has requested $100,000 be allocated to study the effects of Bt corn pollen on Monarch butterflies. Almost 200 cotton farmers are suing Monsanto for failure of Monsanto's Bt and Roundup Ready cotton seeds.
• Seven of the eight major food chains in the United Kingdom have imposed a complete ban on Generically Modified (GM) foods in the ingredients of their stores and all eight wish for better labeling. (March 28, 1999) David Sanders, soybean farmer west of Genoa, Ohio who refuses to use Roundup Ready soybeans, said "I don't know where this is going but I don't think it [GE foods] is right."
• Northeast of Oak Harbor, Ohio, Roger Peters openly states his objection to genetically modified foods. He is especially concerned about the farmers right to save and plant his own seed. He opposes further monopolizing of the seed source by the Monsanto Company who plans to protect their products with a terminator gene. This gene would require farmers to go to Monsanto for their seed.

Natural Law Party, a recently established political voice is made up of dedicated scientists, educators and active public candidates, who have formulated a recommendation for policy on genetically engineered foods:

1. Label all genetically engineered food so that consumers can decide for themselves which products type they prefer, and
2. Establish a moratorium on the release of Genetically Engineered organisms into the environment until they are adequately studied.

• Organic farmers and suppliers
  
• www.greenpeace.org/~comms/cbio/geneng.html
  
• www.safe-food.org/
  
• www.envirolink.org/orgs/shag/
  
• Australian GeneEthics Network
  
• www.natural-law.org/issues/genetics/ge_hazards.html
  
• www.psagef.org/indexgen.htm