‘Toxic’ GM foods under close scrutiny

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Cape Town - Laboratory tests released last week show the percentage of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in South Africa’s staple food mealie meal has increased to an average level of 80 percent, with some brands as high as 91 percent. This comes after tests on human cells have shown for the first time that the genetically modified (GM) toxins produced by GM plants can have a toxic effect on human cells. But tests on two popular brands of baby food revealed a very low level of GMOs – a marked drop from tests done a few years ago – while eight brands of processed breakfast cereals such as corn flakes showed very low or no GMOs. The African Centre for Biosafety (ABC), an NGO which campaigns against genetic engineering and the privatisation of staple food seed, funded laboratory tests carried out by the University of Free State to test several foodstuff for GM content. The organisation said it appeared the four companies which controlled most of the mealie meal market were “determined to force feed” South Africans with GM maize, which it labelled as “risky”. Premier’s Iwisa Maize Meal contains 91 percent GM maize, a 10 percent increase from lab tests paid for by the African Centre for Biosafety in 2013. Tiger Brand’s Ace Maize Meal contains 87 percent, up by nine percent from 2013; Foodcorp’s Tafelberg Maize Meal has 88 percent GM, up by 27 percent from 2014; Pioneer’s White Star Maize Meal has 55 percent GM, down by 17 percent from 2013, but up by seven percent from 2014.

Tests showed GM content in ProNutro toddlers apple and banana cereal was down from 97 percent GM in 2008 to 18 percent GM maize and 15 percent GM soya in 2015.

Nestlé Cerelac Infant Cereal was down from 76 percent GM maize in 2012 to 0.45 percent in 2015.

Eight brands of processed breakfast cereals such as corn flakes showed very low levels of GM.

The ACB said in a statement: “While baby food and other breakfast cereals that cater to middle- and upper-income earners appear to contain either no or increasingly less GM, the majority of South Africans – many millions who live below the breadline and for whom maize meal is a staple food – have to endure very higher levels of GM maize.”

Zakiyya Ismail, consumer campaigner for ACB, said 87 percent of the total maize crop in SA was GM.

The test results showed that either food producers had turned away from using GM in breakfast cereals, or the intense heat in processing had made it difficult to detect transgenic DNA.

The organisation called for proper legislation in labelling processed products based on the source of the ingredients used rather than whether GM could be detected in lab tests.

Pioneer group executive Anton van Zyl said the company was aware of the debate on the merits of GM, and it labelled products that contained GM. However, it had not embarked on any deliberate GMO content reduction.

“We can, however, confirm that our ProNutro range was reformulated last year and now contains no GM maize or soya,” Van Zyl said.

Tiger Brands spokesperson Nevashnee Naicker said the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries had approved the use of GM maize, soya and cotton.

Premier sent a position statement which said it was aware that some consumers were concerned about the unknown impacts of genetic modification.

All Premier’s ingredients complied with the law and were regarded as safe.

The company was actively working with government, consumers and campaigners to develop guidelines for GM ingredients.

Foodcorp’s Stephen Heath said there had been continuing discussion about GM between the National Chamber of Milling and the Department of Trade and Industry.

Cape Times