Greenpeace alert on genetically modified corn in Indian food products
May 2nd, 2008 - 10:46 pm ICT by admin New Delhi, May 2 (ANI): Greenpeace, an environmental activist group sounded an alert in New Delhi on Friday on the presence of Genetically Modified (GM) corn in Indian food products that is harmful to humans.
Tests conducted at an independent laboratory on products picked up randomly from a supermarket in New Delhi revealed that Pepsico’s Doritos corn chips contain genetically modified Mon 863 and NK603 variety corn ingredients.
Both Mon 863 and NK 603 are Monsanto’s genetically modified corn varieties. Mon 863 has a bacterial gene for pesticide tolerance while NK 603 has a bacterial gene for herbicide tolerance.
“In 2007, an independent analysis by well known toxicologists and microbiologists in Europe confirmed that genetically modified corn is not safe for eating. The same corn is being sold in India. The products of the same corn are being sold in India. We want to show this to the people and the government that this has been going on and it is high time that the government take action,” said Rajesh Krishnan, campaigner, Sustainable Agriculture, Greenpeace India.
The debate that ensued led many countries in Europe including France and Romania to stop the cultivation of GM corn. None of these varieties have been approved by in India for human consumption.
Greenpeace is demanding that the Health Ministry take notice of this serious violation and threat to human health and constitute the Food Safety and Standards Authority at the earliest. (ANI)
- Herbicide tolerant GM crops pose serious health threat: Greenpeace - Aug 04, 2011
- Monsanto's violations in GM maize trials ignored: RTI reply - Feb 06, 2012
- Ban on GM crops' field trials in Karnataka demanded - Jul 04, 2011
- Greenpeace activists demand ban on genetically modified food - Jun 19, 2008
- Monsanto to continue research on GM crops in India - Feb 10, 2010
- Human rights group opposes trial of genetically modified corn - Oct 13, 2009
- Activists write to Ramesh against Monsanto - Jul 05, 2011
- GM cows produce 'human' breast milk - Apr 03, 2011
- 'Ban on Bt brinjal hurting Indian scientists' - Jan 26, 2011
- Popular Indian foods have genetically modified components: Greenpeace - Sep 09, 2009
- Monsanto believes GM foods will be accepted in India - Jul 14, 2010
- GM crops like East India Co, say authorities in Madhya Pradesh - Oct 30, 2009
- India is sharply divided over introduction of Bt Brinjal - Feb 09, 2010
- TB-spread fears follow European GM potato ruling - Mar 04, 2010
- Only a few countries have GM crops (To go with 'India is sharply divided....') - Feb 09, 2010
Tags: bacterial gene, corn chips, corn varieties, countries in europe, doritos, environmental activist group, gm corn, greenpeace, health ministry, herbicide tolerance, human consumption, independent analysis, independent laboratory, indian food products, microbiologists, nk 603, pesticide tolerance, rajesh krishnan, sustainable agriculture, toxicologists
