SOY/Health Canada Exposing Babies to Serious Risk

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Health Canada Exposing Babies to Serious RiskSunday, February 17, 2002

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SOY/Health Canada Exposing Babies to Serious Risk

 

- http://www.healthcoalition.ca/release060799.html -

 

 

The Canadian Health Coalition is dedicated to preserving and enhancing

Canada's public health system for the benefit of all Canadians.

Founded in 1979, the coalition includes groups representing unions, seniors,

women, students, consumers and health care professionals across Canada.

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June 7, 1999

Health Canada exposing babies to serious risk

Routine use of soy-based infant formulas must be stopped

(OTTAWA) - Health Minister Allan Rock is being called on today by the

Canadian Health Coalition, the Infant Feeding Action Coalition (INFACT

Canada), and the National Federation of Nurses Unions, to impose immediate

restrictions on the routine use of soy-based infant formulas. Despite

warnings from leading health scientists and the acknowledgment by the New

Zealand Ministry of Health of the potential of soy formulas to damage an

infant's thyroid, the Minister has refused to take action.

" Currently 20 per cent of infants in Canada are fed soy-based infant

formulas and are thereby exposed to levels of phytoestrogens up to 22,000

times higher than those normally found in breast milk, " said Elizabeth

Sterken, of INFACT Canada. " Statements by Health Canada and the infant food

industry that the formulas are safe are false and misleading. The American

Academy of Pediatrics states it will take years of research to

scientifically establish the safety of phytoestrogens, " said Sterken.

Epidemiological evidence links soy formula consumption to:

disruption of normal sexual development evidenced by changes in onset of

puberty;

onset of early puberty in the U.S. occurred in tandem with increased sales

of soy formulas;

thyroid dysfunction and increased incidence of goitre as phytoestrogens act

as endocrine disrupters ( " gender-benders " );

phytoestrogens are known to induce infertility in animals and possibly in

some birds;

possible links between soy phytoestrogen genistein and infantile leukemia.

" Rather than protecting the health of the most vulnerable, babies and

children, Canada's Health Protection Branch and the Canadian Food Inspection

Agency are protecting the infant formula, food, pesticides, and biotech

industries. This is a grotesque betrayal. The use of the soy-based formula

must be restricted immediately until the industry demonstrates the safety of

phytoestrogens, " insisted Sterken.

All infant formulas sold in Canada are manufactured with genetically mutant

soy beans. Safety of genetically manipulated food in human populations is

untested. Infants fed soy-based formulas are fed these products as their

exclusive food for the first six months of life and as part of the weaning

diet for up to two years. Babies have unique nutritional and development

needs. Damage to health, immune capacity, physical and neurological

development at an early age is irreversible.

Why is Health Canada gambling with the lives of babies?

Since 1995 leading scientists in New Zealand have been calling for a ban on

general sales of soy-based infant formulas. The New Zealand Ministry of

Health has publicly acknowledged the potential of soy formulas to damage an

infant's thyroid. These same researchers informed Health Canada and the

Minister of Health, Allan Rock, of their research results and concerns. No

action was taken to protect babies in Canada or warn parents of the risks.

According to Dr. E. Ann Clark, a professor in the department of Plant

Agriculture at the University of Guelph: " Canadians have become the

unwitting test subjects of a mass, uncontrolled experiment with products

whose safety is unknown and untested. A precautionary approach must be taken

rather than continuing to produce, approve, and market genetically

engineered products until damage is proven. Have we learned nothing from the

debacle of the tobacco industry? "

Clark and colleagues at other universities have examined the process by

which genetically engineered field crops are approved for release into

commerce. She concluded: " These crops have been approved based on faulty

assumptions and without any independent scientific research to assess the

safety and environmental risk. "

" According to its statutory duty, the Health Protection Branch must exercise

due diligence and protect infant health from potentially irreversible

damage, " said Kathleen Connors, President of the National Federation of

Nurses Unions.

" This means adopting a precautionary approach whereby soy formula

manufacturers bear the burden of demonstrating the safety of phytoestrogens

and genetically mutant food. Immediate preventative action to restrict the

use of the soy-based formulas is critical and legally required " , said

Connors.

Health Canada claims that: " We have a clear and stringent process and a very

thorough process to ensure the safety of biotechnical foods " (National Post,

June 3, 1999, p.A5). Connors disagrees: " Professor Clark's analysis

demonstrates beyond the shadow of a doubt that this policy statement on

genetically engineered food is fraudulent. "

" Is Allan Rock really saying that Health Canada wants to wait until the 20

per cent of Canadian babies on soy-based formulas grow up and develop

thyroid dysfunction before it acts to protect infant health with

preventative measures?

" Is this the legacy the Minister of Health will leave our children? " asked

Kathleen Connors.

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For further information:

Michael McBane, CHC

(613) 521-3400, ext. 308

Elizabeth Sterken, INFACT Canada

(416) 595-9819 or www.infactcanada.ca

 

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