What are the must-know risks of genetically modified foods?

By Jiang Yiying  Secretary, Homemakers United Foundation

The term "GM" (genetic modification) is a technological phrase that feels remote, carrying enormous professional expertise and commercial momentum. Even if you are unwilling to look into it, it entered your life long ago and is inseparable from you and me every day. Today, have you taken a stand against "GM"?

GM Hidden in Commercially Sold Foods

Take a walk through the supermarket and look carefully at the labels on packaged foods, especially soybean or corn products. Some say "genetically modified," some say "non-genetically modified," but most products do not specifically note this at all. How exactly are consumers supposed to choose? Taiwan's labeling law for GM foods stipulates that products containing more than 5% GM ingredients must be labeled "contains genetically modified organisms." But is the 5% tolerance level safe? If the labeling law allows a certain proportion of leeway, then as long as manufacturers do not write it and the authorities do not check, no one can sue a manufacturer for false labeling.

GM soybeans (edamame/soy) account for about 50% of the global soybean planting area; GM corn accounts for about 30% of the global corn planting area. We can reasonably estimate that a considerable proportion of foods made from imported soybeans and corn also come from GM sources. Yet on food labels, this proportion is nowhere to be seen. The proportion of corn products labeled as GM is especially low, which makes one wonder whether consumers are being kept in the dark, eating GM foods without knowing it.

The Risks of GM Foods

Foreign research reports have pointed out that rats fed GM soybeans showed growth disorders, underdeveloped testes, and other phenomena, and a third generation of rats even developed the condition of hair growing on the upper palate inside the mouth. Studies have also shown that certain proteins in GM soybeans can cause allergic reactions in humans and even death. Before more research data can be collected, GM foods have already spread to every corner of the globe. Whether they will cause more harm to human health remains unknown, but the public has already been forced to accept "legally marketed" GM foods.

Because there is still no long-term risk assessment of GM foods' effects on human and animal health or on the ecology, the Taiwan government currently does not yet permit field cultivation of GM crops (only laboratory cultivation research is allowed). We cannot grow them ourselves, yet we can eat what others grow. Why exactly does such a standards gap exist between agricultural policy and trade regulations? Is the risk involved borne by the entire public?

Reclaiming Consumers' Power

GM companies hold enormous capital and can even influence agricultural policy, mobilizing governments to pave the way for the GM crop trade. This is a completely unbalanced situation. These companies constantly claim that GM crops can solve the food crisis while covering up other risks. Once large corporations control most of the world's food crop seed sources, they effectively control the entire world.

Fortunately, consumers around the world are not blindly ignorant. Anti-GM movements have been launched in many countries. The wave of opposition initiated by consumers is very effective, and even large corporations dare not ignore it. Shareholders of Monsanto, the world's largest GM company, have already made demands on the company to provide comprehensive reports on product characteristics, including risks and impacts, rather than only boasting about advantages and reporting only the good news while hiding the bad. If the power of knowledge is reclaimed, consumers will have the strength to oppose GM.

Taiwan, China: Oppose GM Now

While Taiwan, China has not yet opened up cultivation of GM crops, the whole public should immediately take a stand: We do not want GM! Take early action to protect the right to cast an opposing vote, and use market pressure to resist the advance of the GM forces. Because once field cultivation is opened up, not only will packaged foods be at risk, but crops grown in the open air may also be contaminated by GM pollen. GM crops cannot be identified with the naked eye, and agricultural products are difficult to regulate through labeling laws. Is what you buy actually GM or not? By then, consumers will not even have the right to choose.

The first step to protect yourself: next time you walk into a supermarket, you can look carefully at food packaging and choose products labeled "non-genetically modified." The second step is to pay attention to the Department of Health's random testing of GM foods, using consumers' power to urge the government to truly enforce it. The third step is to know the place of origin and support products produced in "GM-free farming zones."
Taiwan, China currently already has more than 300 farming households that have declared the establishment of "GM-free farming zones," with a total area of about 572 hectares. Farmers are declaring food sovereignty on their land and calling on consumers to support them with action as well.

On Friday, December 2, 9:00-17:00, the "Forum on Genetic Modification Technology and Food Safety," hosted by the Homemakers United Foundation, will invite many scholars, experts, civil society groups, and farmers promoting GM-free farming zones locally to discuss the current situation of anti-GM efforts in Taiwan, China and internationally. Everyone is welcome to come and show their concern!

Forum on Genetic Modification Technology and Food Safety

Agenda: http://www.huf.org.tw/event/content/458
Time: Friday, December 2, 2011, 9:00-17:00
Venue: Taiwan Normal University Gongguan Campus (No. 88, Section 4, Tingzhou Road, Taipei City) Comprehensive Hall International Conference Room
Organizers: Homemakers United Foundation, Homemakers United Consumer Cooperative, National Taiwan University Seed Research Laboratory, Green Citizens' Action Alliance

Nuclear power and genetic modification stand side by side as the two most controversial technologies of the twentieth century.
Today, when the nuclear power issue is in full uproar, the public has only a half-understanding of the GM issue.
Taiwan, China's laws do not permit the cultivation of GM crops, but GM seeds and foods have long since flooded the market.
GM planting areas in various countries continue to rise, and the great wheel of world trade is hard to resist.
They have been on the market for a long time yet lack long-term research on impact assessment. What health risks do GM foods actually pose?
They have triggered consumer boycotts in many countries in Europe and Japan. What social risks does the development of GM technology bring?
What are the positions of government departments, research institutions, farmers, and the general public?
Regarding GM, what information should we know?

On Friday, December 2, 2011, 9:00-17:00, everyone is welcome to come and show their concern!