Stealing, suppressing???

Food or rather gene patenting might start to look like an excuse to exploit people, especially those who are from the developing countries who are prone to famine to buy the rights to grow the same or similar type of crops that can have been grown on their land from the large transnational corporations. This view can be derived from http://www.globalissues.org/article/191/food-patents-stealing-indigenous-knowledge

In this article it shows some statistics that are quite depressing to see that some companies are so profit driven that they might have neglected the actual needs of the less fortunate.

Derived portions from the article:

Large transnational corporations like Monsanto, DuPont and others have been investing into biotechnology in such a way that patents have been taken out on indigenous plants which have been used for generations by the local people, without their knowledge or consent. The people then find that the only way to use their age-old knowledge is be to buy them back from the big corporations. In Brazil, which has some of the richest biodiversity in the world, large multinational corporations have already patented more than half the known plant species. (Brazil is estimated to have around 55,000 species of flora, amounting to some 22% of the world's total. India, for example, has about46,000.)

While many biotech companies claim that genetically engineered foods will help alleviate hunger and increase food security, their acts of patenting the knowledge and food that has been developed over centuries itself may be a threat to food security, due to more concentrated ownership and the political advantages that goes with that. The large biotech firms are mainly from western nations, especially America.

Kong Carol

genetically modified foods be labelled in the market place

The guideline is proposed to apply to labelling of foods and food ingredients in three situations, when they are:

(1) significantly different from conventional counterparts
(2) composed of or contain GM/GE organisms or contain protein or DNA resulting from gene technology
(3) when they are produced from but do not contain GM/GE organisms, protein or DNA from gene technology.

http://www.greenfacts.org/en/gmo/3-genetically-engineered-food/4-food-safety-labelling.htm#1p1

Bao Yun

Trips to the loo

After a firsthand experience as a victim of a food poisoning case when I was interning in my OSIP in Bangkok, the once far-fetched perception of the much warned high probability of food poisoning in a foreign country will not affect me had actually happened. It was a dreadful 2 days where almost every moment is filled with much trips to the loo.

During that two days, when I was feeling a little better, I managed to find some information on why did I felt feverish. I search the net for the symptoms for food poisoning due to the numerous trips to the toilet. I found out that I was down with Infective diarrhoea which is also often referred to as gastroenteritis. This was because I was exposed to bacteria and viruses that I have not encountered in Singapore so my immune system was not really ready for them.

The common symptoms were recurrent loose, watery stools, abdominal cramps and pain, fever, lightheadedness or dizziness from dehydration. I experienced all the signs and symptoms. Re- hydration is very important as lots of bodily fluids will be lost during this period of time. I didn’t go to the doctor because the diarrhoea cleared up after a day or so. However in other cases of food poisoning, things will get worst. For example:

FOOD SAFETY CONCERNS

1) France investigates 2 new suspected E. coli cases

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/06/17/france-investigating-new-suspected-e-coli-cases/#ixzz1Q6SUA3w9

2) Some infections include similar diarrhoea symptoms:

E. coli infection can cause haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS). The symptoms include:

Abdominal cramps, vomiting, bloody diarrhoea (dysentery), which can cause dehydration, severe fatigue, anaemia, uraemia & bleeding tendencies.

Read more from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/treatments/travel/illnessinjury_diarrhoea.shtml

Kong Carol

Taiwan destroys chemical-tainted drinks

TAIPEI - TAIWAN'S leader has overseen the destruction of 2.3 tons of beverages believed to be tainted with a dangerous chemical.

President Ma Ying Jeou called on makers to improve food safety after the products were dumped into a waste treatment plant on Saturday.

Authorities have inspected 16,000 stores over the past month and removed drinks, teas and health supplements containing DEHP, a plasticiser added to improve colour and texture. Officials say large doses of DEHP could cause future reproductive problems for boys.

There have been no confirmed reports of ill effects from the foods. But China and a dozen other countries have banned a long list of Taiwanese products feared contaminated. -- AP

cited from: http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Asia/Story/STIStory_678786.html

posted by Chun Hui

Two taiwan drinks banned after toxic test

Serinah Ho

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Hong Kong has banned from today two Taiwan sports drinks after samples showed excessive amount of a cancer-causing plastic additive.

Tests by the Centre for Food Safety found six samples from 600-milliliter bottles of Speed Sports Drink and Speed Sports Drink Lemon Flavour were laced with 11 to 43 parts per million of the plasticizer DEHP - or up to 17 times the tolerable level of 1.5 ppm set by the World Health Organization.

Thirty samples of sports drinks, fruit and jelly were taken last week with the results for nine released yesterday. Three drink samples were not contaminated.

The results for the other samples will be announced later this week. Centre for Food Safety controller Constance Chan Hon-yee said consuming the drinks occasionally is tolerable.

"But those drinking half or one bottle every day and for a long period could suffer from some health impacts, as according to World Health Organization, [DEHP] is harmful to liver, kidney and [can cause] cancer," she said.

DEHP, or di(2-ethylnexyl) phthalate, is currently excluded from regular food surveillance programs. However, the department will consider making adjustments depending on the results of the test samples, she added.

The chemical is banned for use in foods in many places but in Taiwan it has been used to keep emulsions in drinks evenly dispersed. Heston Kwong Kwok-wai, assistant director of health (special health services), also reported that Brand's Calcium Grow Chewable Tablets - recalled last Friday - were found to contain 40 ppm of DEHP, or about 50 micrograms per tablet.

A total of 4,608 boxes of tablets have been imported from Taiwan since 2009 with 2,351 sold. "According to the Department of Health's risk assessment, taking such DEHP-contaminated calcium tablets will not cause immediate harm to health," he said.

Secretary for Food and Health York Chow Yat-ngok said the government will continue to monitor Taiwan products including sports and fruit drinks, tea, jams, syrup and calcium supplements.

Local travel agencies said Taiwan- bound tours have not been affected so far and they are not worried since there are alternative food products.

Meanwhile, Taiwan authorities swooped on vendors at the renowned Shilin Night Market who were selling drinks containing DEHP.

Taiwan health minister Chui We

n- Ta Chiu said authorities will continue to inspect hot spots but added there is no need to close the market.

Taipei's Health Food and Drug Division head Chiang Yu-mei said Jin Guoo Wang Food Co was fined NT$150,000 (HK$40,400) for supplying a DEHP- laced clouding agent to 49 stalls in Shilin and Beitou districts for making drinks

cited from: http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?sid=32555628&art_id=111587&con_type=1&pp_cat=30

posted by Chun Hui

Singapore to ensure safety of GM food

AVA prepares to handle a possible increase in such items

SINGAPORE is gearing up to handle a possible onslaught of genetically modified food in the next five years. A laboratory has been set up by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) to test such food items and make sure they do not pose any health risks for people here. Six AVA staff have also been trained to test for food that has been altered, said the local food watchdog's chief executive officer, Dr Ngiam Tong Tau. He was speaking to The Straits Times after opening the International Conference on Genetically Modified Foods - Prospects, Challenges and Safety at the Mandarin Hotel yesterday. The laboratory, which was set up last year at its public health laboratory in Jurong, will be relocated to its new Lim Chu Kang public health centre soon. Genetically-modified (GM) food is from plants or animals that have been injected with special genes to give them certain properties. In 2001, more than 52 million ha of such soya bean, corn, cotton and canola oil were grown in 13 countries. About half of the soya and a third of the corn sold here is genetically modified, but they have all been tested stringently before hitting the shelves. Dr Ngiam said that so far, the AVA has not rejected any GM product, but caution is still needed for future ones. He said: 'If they came in through normal procedure, then they would be safe. But sometimes food producers may not tell you the food being sold has been modified genetically.' On whether Singapore would label these foods, Dr Ngiam reiterated the Government's stand that it would wait for the Codex Alimentarius' decision. This is an international committee sanctioned by the World Health Organisation and the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation. The group is expected to come up with biosafety protocols for the world by the middle of the year, but a decision on labelling will be taken later. If it decides that labelling is not needed, Singapore, because of its small size, would find it difficult to insist that sellers and importers do so. Labelling on its own would cost the Republic millions and food would cost more. A public forum on GM food will be held tomorrow, the last day of the conference. Foreign and local experts will speak at the meeting, which will be held at the Mandarin Hotel at 10.30 am. It costs $10 to attend. taken from Straits Times Interactive, Feb 28 2003 posted by Chun Hui

Pictures of GM food

Posted by Chun Hui

GM Label

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/10/iowa_presidenti.php

yukun

Labelling of GM Food

q EU regulations require all the 25 EU countries to label GM food

q EU regulations do not require by-products (meat, milk, eggs) from livestock fed GM feed to be labelled

q The US and Canada do not require GM foods to be labelled

q ICELAND does not yet require labelling of GM foods

http://www.erfdabreytt.net/en_default2.asp?strAction=getPublication&intPublId=157

yukun

Will foods produced from GMOs carry special labels in Singapore?

There are currently no legislation and guidelines for the labelling of GM foods in Singapore. GM food labelling is a complex issue. It has implications on food imports, food prices, trade, practicality of enforcement etc. International consensus on GM food labelling has not yet been reached. The Codex Alimentarius, the world's authority on food safety and labelling, continues its work on the issue. The Codex Committee on Food Labelling (CCFL) is examining the various facets of the GM food labelling issue to come up with an internationally accepted position on the issue. Singapore, being a member of Codex, is working with other countries in the CCFL on the matter. GMAC has also set up a subcommittee to monitor relevant international developments and to help formulate a national position on the GM labelling issue that will be in line with international standards. Meanwhile, it is accepted by most countries that GM labelling is not for food safety reasons but to provide consumers with choice. Although the AVA’s current food regulations do not require GM food to be specially labelled, GM foods, like all other food products, must meet existing food labelling requirements with regard to ingredient listing and information to facilitate tracing and recall. The local authorities will work to ensure that GM foods commercially available in Singapore are safe for consumption, and will also continue to monitor international developments closely to ensure that Singapore's labelling requirements are up to date. http://www.gmac.gov.sg/Index_FAQs_Genetically_Modified_Foods.html yukun

Food safety issues

Taiwan's food safety measures under scrutiny after DEHP scare

Retrived from : Jen, Victoria . (2011, May 27). Taiwan's food safety measures under scrutiny after dehp scare. Retrieved from http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/eastasia/view/1131633/1/.html

By Channel NewsAsia's Taiwan correspondent Victoria Jen

TAIPEI: 32-year-old Huang Jen Chieh thinks she may be a victim of the plasticiser DEHP. Recently diagnosed with cancer, she suspects it is caused by the contaminated enzyme she has been taking for seven years.

She said: "At first I thought it was a (safe) food product because it had FDA certification, so I was really surprised to find out this could cause cancer."

While there is no direct evidence that links her cancer to DEHP, her case is causing panic across the island.

That is because Yu Sheng, the company responsible for the scare, is Taiwan's biggest supplier of emulsifier - a food additive often used in fruit juice, jelly and sports drink.

Media reports said it has been selling the plasticiser as a food additive for five years. More than 300 tons have been sold mostly in Taiwan and overseas.

Shiu Ming Neng, Deputy Director General of Taiwan's Food and Drug Administration, said: "Affected countries include the US, Hong Kong and China. Plasticiser made by Yu Sheng has been shipped to the Philippines and Vietnam."

Products by big names in Taiwan like King Car, HeySong and Taiwan Sugar have been found to be tainted and the contamination is spreading from beverages to children's vitamins.

Stores across the island are frantically pulling products off the shelves but that is not enough to assure the public as some have started expressing concern about Taiwan's food safety measures.

Taiwan's health authorities said the contamination should be contained in a few days, but the damage done to public confidence in Taiwan's food safety, at home and abroad, may not be restored for a long time to come.

-CNA/ac

Kong Carol

History of GM Foods

The first commercially grown genetically modified food crop was a tomato created by California company in the early 1990s.

Called the FlavrSavr, it was genetically altered so that it took longer to decompose after being picked.

A variety of the tomato was used to make tomato puree that was sold in Europe in the mid-1990s, before controversy erupted over GM crops.

Labour announced farm scale trials of GM crops starting in 1999 to study the effects crops engineered to be resistant to herbicide - allowing one, powerful dose to be used - might have on farmland wildlife.

In September 1999, pollen from GM oilseed rape, grown at a trial site in Oxfordshire, was found at beehives 2.8 miles away. The research was carried out by experts at the Britain's National Pollen Research Unit.

Then in May 2000, honey on sale in supermarkets was found to be contaminated with GM pollen from British crop trials. Two out of nine samples show contamination.

In 2004, the then Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett told the Commons that the Government was approving the commercial planting of GM maize for animal feed.

The decision to allow new trials was seen as a move to set the GM bandwagon rolling again in Britain now that the controversy is less fevered.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-419985/History-genetically-modified-food.html#ixzz1PvDpAc5Z

Bao Yun