First official results of the global experiment are in - soya
allergies dramatically increased in the last year. Prime suspect
- GM soya! Stand up Monsanto - where is your
insurance???
We wait eagerly for the Health Ministers rebuttal.
York Nutritional Laboratory has had a busy day on the phone, but
if the media in your country want to follow this up they are
happy to be contacted.
Tel: +44 1904 690640
Daily Express 12 March 99
Why soya is a hidden destroyer
Exclusive by Mark Townsend
Fresh fears over the safety of genetically modified foods
surfaced faced yesterday after new research revealed that food
allergies relating to soya Increased by 50 per cent last year
A study by Europe's leading specialists on food sensitivity found health complaints caused by soya - the ingredient most associated with GM foods - have increased from 10 in 100 patients to 15 in 100 over the past year. Researchers at the York Nutritional Laboratory said their findings provide real evidence that GM food could have a tangible, harmful impact on the human body
The findings were sent to Health Secretary Frank Dobson last night as scientists urged the Government to act on the information and impose an instant ban on GM food, while further safety tests are carried out. Dr Michael Antoniou, senior lecturer in molecular pathology at Guy's Hospital, Central London,, said: "This is a very interesting if slightly worrying, development. "It points to the fact that far more work is needed to assess their safety. At the moment no allergy tests are carried out before GM foods are marketed and that also needs to be looked at."
John Graham, spokesman for the York laboratory, said: "We believe this raises serious new questions about the safety of GM foods because it is impossible to guarantee that the soya used in the tests was GM-free." It is the first time in 17 years of testing that soya has crept into the laboratory's top 10 foods to cause an allergic reaction in consumers. The vegetable has moved up four places to ninth end now sits alongside foodstuffs with a long history of causing allergies, such as yeast, sunflower seeds and nuts
Mr. Graham said researchers tested 4,500 people for allergic
reactions to vegetables including soya. Among the range of
chronic illnesses it caused were irritable bowel syndrome,
digestiontion problems and skin complaints including acne and
eczema.
"People also suffered neurological problems with chronic
fatigue syndrome, headaches and lethargy. It is worrying,"
Mr Graham added. Researchers measured the levels of antibodies in
a person's blood. If increased levels were detected it showed the
person suffered an adverse reaction to a particular food.
Soya, the wonder crop of the 20th century is found in 60 per cent of all processed foods sold in the UK - from bread to baby food, ready-to-eat curries to vegetarian lasagne. But because GM and natural soya are mixed at source in America - the world's biggest supplier - it has become increasingly difficult for retailers to guarantee the purity of any products.
Last month campaigners from Greenpeace dumped four tons of GM
soya beans from America at the gates of Downing Street in
protest. The Consumers' Association yesterday renewed its demand
for the Government to investigate the safety of GM foods. A
spokesman said: "We just don't know what health problems
could arise in the future. Waitrose yesterday announced that it
would be stocking its own-label GM-free foods by the end of the
month. Managing director David Felwick said: "We believe
customers should be able to make an informed choice about the
products they are buying."