Higher Level of Herbicide Toxins in New GE Soy (GE Free NZ press release)

Consumers are being left in the dark about increasing levels of pesticides used in GE foods, as authorities quietly rubber-stamp an even wider range of chemical tolerant GE foods for entry into the food chain.

The latest GE food application, A 1073 soy containing 2,4-D, glufosinate ammonium and glyphosate [1] tolerant genes, is being assessed by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), and will contain significantly higher herbicide toxins than conventionally grown non-GE corn.[2]

US data shows that the use of herbicidal and insecticidal chemical toxins are increasing as more GE foods enter the food chain. US-based scientist Dr. Charles Benbrook spoke to an international forum detailing the changes in chemical use with GE crops from 1996-2011. After 15 years the use of toxic herbicides on GE crops has increased whilst non-GE crops have had a reduction in chemical applications, and now a second wave of new herbicide tolerant GE crops such as 2,4-D are now being aded to the mix.

“This is damning evidence of the increasing levels of pesticidal toxicity in the food supply,” said Claire Bleakley of GE-Free NZ.

"FSANZ appears to disregard any concerns over the growing level of toxic pesticides in GE food. They continue to disregard and rubber stamp importation of GE foods into the food chain and have no concerns for the impact on public health, especially on vulnerable groups including infants, pregnant women, and the immune-suppressed."

The world's first application for 2,4-D corn and soy was approved late last year by FSANZ even though there was a complete absence of study data that would deduce safety.

GE Free NZ is still waiting a response from the Ombudsmen’s Office about the path ways available to New Zealander citizens who wish to have FSANZ GE previous decisions reviewed, as New Zealanders do not have jurisdiction in the Australian courts defined in the FSANZ legislation.

References:
[1] Application A1073 Food derived from Herbicide-tolerant Soybean DAS-44406-6 http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/foodstandards/applications/applicationa1073food5541.cfm

[2] Implications of GM crop cultivation at large spatial scales http://www.gmwatch.eu/latest-listing/1-news-items/14041-new-benbrook-data-blow-away-claims-of-pesticide-reduction-due-to-gm-crops

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