GM foods are more dangerous for children than adults

1. Children are generally more susceptible to toxins, allergens and nutritional problems.
   
   
2. They consume more milk which may be from cows treated with rbGH.
   
   
3. The emergence of antibiotic-resistant diseases may also significantly impact those
   children who are prone to recurring infections.
   

Pregnant mothers eating GM foods may endanger offspring

1. Embryo development can be adversely affected by tiny amounts of substances in
   the mother’s diet.
   
   
2. A pregnant mother’s diet may even alter gene expression in children and be passed
   on to future generations.
   
   
3. GM crops may contain substances that impact normal fetal development, but have
   never been adequately tested for these effects.

Milk from rbGH treated cows may increase risk of cancer and other diseases.

1. Monsanto’s genetically engineered bovine growth hormone is injected into dairy cows in US and
   elsewhere, to increase milk production.Milk from treated cows has much higher levels of IGF-1,
   a hormone considered to be a high risk factor for breast, prostate, colon, lung and other cancers.
   The milk also has lowered nutritional value, increased antibiotics and more pus from infected udders.
   
   
2. Milk from treated cows has much higher levels of IGF-1, a hormone considered to be a high risk
   factor for breast, prostate, colon, lung and other cancers.
   
   
3. The milk also has lowered nutritional value, increased antibiotics and more pus from infected udders.

GM proteins in soy, corn and papaya may be allergens

1. Tests cannot guarantee that a GM protein will not cause allergies.
   
   
2. The WHO and FAO offer criteria that help minimize the likelihood that allergenic GM
   crops are approved.
   
   
3. GM soybeans, corn, and papaya fail those criteria.
   
   
4. The GM proteins from these foods are too similar to known allergens.
   
   
5. This evidence was ignored by regulators, who approved the crops.

Rats fed GM tomatoes got bleeding stomachs, several died

1. Rats were fed the GM FlavrSavr tomato for 28 days.
   
   
2. Seven of 20 rats developed stomach lesions (bleeding stomachs);
   another 7 of 40 died within two weeks and were replaced in the study.
   
   
3. The tomato was approved despite unresolved safety questions by FDA scientists.

GM potatoes damaged rats

1. Rats were fed potatoes engineered to produce their own insecticide.
   
   
2. They developed potentially precancerous cell growth in the digestive tract, inhibited development of their brains, livers and testicles, partial atrophy of the liver, enlarged pancreases and intestines and immune system damage.
   
   
3. The cause was not the insecticide, but in all likelihood was the process of genetic engineering.
   
   
4. GM foods on the market—which were created with the same process—have not been subject to such an extensive testing protocol.

Decision on marketing Bt brinjal in a month

AHMEDABAD: Setting at rest the speculations over the commercial approval of Bt brinjal, Jairam Ramesh minister of state for environment and Forest (MoEF)

said a final decision on the approval of Bt brinjal was yet to be taken. He said the doubts and concerns raised over the issue would not be neglected.

"After consultations with the stakeholders and other government agencies, the final word will come after February 20 after submitting the report to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh," he said.

Ramesh had visited the city on Tuesday to be a part of regional public consultations in association with Centre for Environment Education (CEE) across the country. He said, "Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) has given its recommendation for commercialisation but the final decision over the issue is yet to be taken. We assure people of independent and transparent decision over Bt brinjal, it is not going to be taken in a closed room."