fw: CAN GM FOOD MAKE YOUR BODY IMMUNE TO ANTIBIOTICS?

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CAN GM FOOD MAKE YOUR BODY IMMUNE TO ANTIBIOTICS?

 

By Sean Poulter, Consumer Affairs Correspondent

Daily Mail, UK

Wednesday, July 17 2002

 

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EATING GM food can change the genetic make-up of your

digestive system and could put you at risk of infections

that are resistant to antibiotics, experts said today.

 

A British study has revealed that volunteers who ate one

meal containing genetically modified soya had traces of the

modified DNA in bacteria in their small intestines.

 

Scientists now fear that GM foods, which are often modified

to be resistant to antibiotics, will leave Britons

vulnerable to untreatable diseases. The research contradicts

repeated claims by the GM industry that gene transfer from

foods to humans is extremely unlikely. It also raises the

possibility that millions of people may already have GM

bacteria from food they have eaten.

 

The study, carried out at the University of Newcastle,

consisted of feeding seven volunteers GM soya. Researchers

found that three of them had evidence of DNA gene transfer

in the bacteria that occurs naturally in their digestive

systems. This is the first time this transfer has been

identified in humans.

 

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'THE STUDY RAISES

SERIOUS CONCERNS'

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Research leader Professor Harry Gilbert played down the

dangers, but confirmed that 'surprising' levels of GM DNA

transfer were found. He said: " There is some evidence of

gene transfer, but it is at an extremely low rate and

therefore it probably does not represent a significant risk

to human health'. The research report suggested that this

transfer may have 'reflected previous exposure of the

subjects to genetically modified plants'. But yesterday

experts claimed the possibility of eating GM crops

containing antibiotic resistance genes raised 'serious

concerns'.

 

Geneticist Dr Michael Antoniou, of Guy's Hospital, London,

said the results indicated the need for an extensive GM

foods testing programme. He added: " The most significant

finding is that there is GM soya DNA in the bacteria at

readily detectable levels in the small intestines. 'It was

always said by the industry that this could not happen or

was extremely unlikely. There is a whole slew of different

antibiotic resistant genes that are being used in GM crops

in their production in the laboratory. They stay in the

final crop.' These genes are often used as a marker to

signal that the desired GM change, such as resistance to a

particular weed killer, has taken place.

 

Dr Antoniou added: 'Bacteria in the gut are going to take up

genes that will make them resistant to potentially

therapeutic antibiotics. 'The possibility is that someone

who picked up the antibiotic resistance through food and

then fell ill, that a medical antibiotic might not be

effective.'

 

However the Food Standards Agency tried to reassure

consumers that GM foods are safe. A spokesman said the

findings had been assessed by several Government experts who

had ruled that humans were not at risk. In a statement on

its website, the agency said the study had concluded it is

'extremely unlikely' that GM genes can end up in the gut of

people who eat them.

 

Friends of the Earth GM expert Adrian Bebb said this

response contradicted the opinions of many international

scientists. He added: 'The FSA's attitude to the release of

this information has been extraordinary. 'It can only fuel

concerns that the Government and its agencies only want the

public to hear positive news about GM. This is the first

time a change to bacteria in the gut has been identified in

humans. It is enormously significant.

 

This is something the GM industry said could not happen. Yet

in the first experiment looking at just seven people, there

it is. The suggestion that the GM DNA could already have

been in the bodies of the participants raises important

questions. Either it got into the gut many years ago and has

been passed down or people are eating GM soya in their diet

on a daily basis.

 

Whatever the reason, it would seem millions of people could

have GM DNA from this soya in their bodies'.