Your guide to genetically modified infant foods
Research made public earlier this year by Arpad Pusztai1 of the UK Rowlett
Institute, set up warning lights that infants and young children
fed foods with genetically modified ingredients may be at risk
from illness and other negative health effects.
Dr. Pusztai's research found that weanling rats fed genetically
modified potatoes had weakened immune systems. Although the research
by Ewen and Pusztai is incomplete and inconclusive, it does give
us serious cause for concern, particularly the possible impact
genetically modified (GM) foods may have on vulnerable populations
-- infants, pregnant and lactating women. Scientists supporting
Dr. Pusztai's findings have expressed concerns that genetically
modified foods can seriously weaken an infant's immune system
with the potential to cause cancers, allergies, and infections.
Canadians too should be concerned.2,3,4
According to Health Canada which has given the green
light for more than 40 genetically modified foods to enter the
food system -- covering such staple commodities as corn,
soy, canola, potatoes, tomatoes -- about 75 per cent
of our processed foods now contain genetically modified ingredients.
No products containing these ingredients require mandatory
labelling, thus catching the Canadian consumer unawares of these
fundamental changes in the foods they consume.
Foods intended for infants and young children have not escaped
laboratory mutation. INFACT Canada contacted the consumer departments
of both Nestlé and Heinz to inquire about GM ingredients
present in their products and whether the company had any plans
to phase out the controversial ingredients.
Nestlé Canada
With great assurance the Nestlé representative told
us that genetically modified foods are safe and have the approval
of Health Canada, and the following ingredients found in infant
formulas or cereal based infant foods may be genetically modified:
soy, corn, potatoes, rice, cotton seed oil, canola oil,
soy lecithin, plant proteins, corn sugars(dextrose, fructose,
dextri-maltose, etc.), corn syrup
When asked if there were plans to phase GM ingredients from
the Nestlé infant food menu, the answer was "no".
Heinz Canada
Jarred baby foods
Those containing corn may be genetically modified.
Cereal based foods
Those containing corn, soy, rice and sugars derived from corn
may be genetically modified.
Heinz's long term policy on GM foods is to seek and procure
non-GM ingredients for their infant food lines.
Infant food products have a shelf life of up to 3 years.
Franken Formulas
Isomil, Prosobee, Alsoy
References:
1. Ewen, S.W.B., Pusztai.
Effect of diets containing genetically modified potatoes expressing
Galanthus nivalis lectin on rat small intestine. The Lancet 354:1353-1354,
1999 BACK
2. Kuiper, H.A., Noteboom,
H.P.J.M., Peijnenburg, A.C.M. Adequacy of methods for testing
the safety of genetically modified foods. The Lancet 354:1315-1316,
1999 BACK
3. Millstone, E. et al.
Commentary. Beyond `substantial equivalence'. Showing that a
genetically modified food is chemically similar to its natural
counterpart is not adequate evidence that it is safe for human
consumption. Nature 401:525-526, 1999 BACK
4. Editorial. Health risks
of genetically modified foods. The Lancet 353:1811, 1999 BACK |
