July 23, 2007

Scientists urge New Zealand government to reject GM corn 

Two scientists are appealing the New Zealand government to refuse approval of a new genetically modified corn which they believe can imperil human health.

Professor Garth Cooper of Auckland University and Associate Professor Jack Heinemann of Canterbury University strongly recommend more trials for the corn, LY038, made by international seed company Monsanto before it can be used as an animal feed.

Food authorities from Australia and New Zealand last year recommended approval by the nine food ministers from both countries, but New Zealand's Food Safety Minister, Annette King, in February sought a review.

After the review, the crop has again been recommended for approval, saying food derived from LY038 "is as safe as food derived from other corn varieties".

But the Sustainability Council, chaired by Professor Cooper, and the Canterbury University's Centre for Integrated Research in Biosafety, headed by Dr Heinemann, say the high levels of lysine in LY038 make it the first GM corn designed to be substantially different from conventional corn in its nutritional profile.

The two groups say the food standards agency has failed to apply proper testing standards - by accepting a Monsanto study based on rats and chickens fed with raw corn when humans eat it cooked; and by not consistently comparing LY038 with a GM-free corn, contrary to international standards.

Professor Cooper said that the corn's high level of lysine should also subject to same testing experimental medicines, including human trials.

He said that the "currently available safety data for the proposed high-lysine corn is judged to fall far short of the quality required for adequate pharmacological safety assessment."