Health: GMOs On Your Plate?

Did you know that you probably eat foods containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs)? According to reliable information, a significant portion of the raw materials used in animal fodder in Mauritius, such as corn and soybeans, would be of transgenic origin. In the wake of the study All guinea pigs? , made public in France last week, which showed that lab rats fed GM maize NK 603 from Monsanto developed tumors elephantine, this information should call more one. Indeed, even if the question of the impact of GMOs on human health remains controversial, the severity of potential dictates that consumers should at least be able to choose between foods containing GMOs and those who don ' not contain. Which is obviously not the case.

Osmosis contacted two major producers of fodder for Mauritius, namely Livestock Feed Ltd. Feed Ltd and Meaders. If the second did not want to answer our questions, Livestock Feed Ltd. has, for its part, neither confirm nor deny this information.

In a rather ambiguous answer to a simple question, the company explained that " for its manufacturing needs food for livestock, Livestock Feed Ltd. imports cereals (corn and soybeans), mainly in Argentina, one of the largest producers in the world. The company, which complies with the standards Mauritian course, chose to follow, in addition to European standards regarding the quality of grain that it uses . " It should be noted that in Europe precisely the import of GMOs for feed production, for example, is legal while the culture of genetically modified species is prohibited.

Asked about the issue of the impact of GMOs consumed indirectly on human health, an expert in agricultural science advocates caution: " The simple answer is we do not know. Several studies have been conducted and others are in progress.They indicate that eating GM foods, or meat from animals fed with GMOs may increase the risk of cancer, reduce fertility and efficiency of lab rats, although data on the impact that they have on human health are not available. There are also studies showing that GM foods pose no risk to humans and the environment, but these studies have generally been financed directly or indirectly by companies that market GMOs. Environmental studies have shown that GM crops in some areas can contaminate non-GM crops through cross-pollination. Over time, it will be almost impossible to keep separate non-GM crops GM crops . "

In Mauritius, it appears that legal uncertainty exists around the issue of import of GMOs for indirect consumption by humans.Indeed, if the authorities are rather strict in what is the import of GMO seeds for the local culture, they are much less regarding GMO grain for fodder. The rationale for this differentiation lies in the apparent belief that direct consumption of GMOs is more risky than the consumption of animals fed with GMOs. In other words, the official line is that you can eat an animal that has not necessarily develop cancer. " It's anything, genes of these animals can be carcinogenic, "protested an environmentalist.

Plancherait government on new legislation (only six sections of the Genetically Modified Organisms Act 2004 were enacted), which aims primarily to restrict the import of food consumed directly by humans may contain GMOs (cereal, etc.). .

For the moment, therefore, the issue of labeling of meat from animals fed with GMOs is not on the agenda. Which should displease the growing number of Mauritians aware of the issues of genetic modification. " You can not play with people's health like that! It is up to consumers to decide whether or not they want to eat GMO products. It is due to our ignorance and our inaction that this state of affairs persists " , denounces the environmentalist.

Same story with our specialist in agricultural sciences. Without completely prohibit the importation of GMOs, they are intended for direct consumption or indirectly, it recommends " legislate for mandatory labeling of food, fodder and GMO seeds . " Coupled with an awareness campaign, such an approach would allow Mauritians " informed decisions . " It establishes the input threshold to 0.9% GMO. For example, a product containing more than 0.9% genetically modified ingredients must be labeled.

It is time to launch a national debate on GMOs in Mauritius. Government and civil society, must always meet present face the enormous challenge posed by the proliferation of GMOs. Perhaps the images of rats bearing cancers have grotesque because of the incredible indifference that prevailed until now. Bon appétit!