Soy Allergy/Adverse Effect Rates Skyrocket -- Monsanto's Roundup-Ready Soy Blamed
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First official results of the global experiment are in - soya allergies
dramatically increased in the last year. Prime
suspect - GM soya! Stand up Monsanto - where is your insurance???
We wait eagerly for the Health Ministers rebuttal.
York Nutritional Laboratory has had a busy day on the phone, but if the
media in your country want to follow this up they
are happy to be contacted.
Tel: +44 1904 690640
Daily Express 12 March 99
Why soya is a hidden destroyer
Exclusive by Mark Townsend
Fresh fears over the safety of genetically modified foods surfaced faced
yesterday after new research revealed that
food allergies relating to soya Increased by 50 per cent last year.
A study by Europe's leading specialists on food sensitivity found health
complaints caused by soya - the
ingredient most associated with GM foods - have increased from 10 in 100
patients to 15 in 100 over the past
year. Researchers at the York Nutritional Laboratory said their findings
provide real evidence that GM food
could have a tangible, harmful impact on the human body.
The findings were sent to Health Secretary Frank Dobson last night as
scientists urged the Government to act on the
information and impose an instant ban on GM food, while further safety
tests are carried out. Dr Michael Antoniou, senior
lecturer in molecular pathology at Guy's Hospital, Central London,, said:
"This is a very interesting if slightly worrying,
development. "It points to the fact that far more work is needed to assess
their safety. At the moment no allergy tests are
carried out before GM foods are marketed and that also needs to be looked at."
John Graham, spokesman for the York laboratory, said: "We believe this
raises serious new questions about the safety of
GM foods because it is impossible to guarantee that the soya used in the
tests was GM-free." It is the first time in 17 years
of testing that soya has crept into the laboratory's top 10 foods to cause
an allergic reaction in consumers. The vegetable
has moved up four places to ninth end now sits alongside foodstuffs with a
long history of causing allergies, such as
yeast, sunflower seeds and nuts.
Mr. Graham said researchers tested 4,500 people for allergic reactions to
vegetables including soya. Among the range of
chronic illnesses it caused were irritable bowel syndrome, digestiontion
problems and skin complaints including acne and
eczema.
"People also suffered neurological problems with chronic fatigue syndrome,
headaches and lethargy. It is worrying," Mr
Graham added. Researchers measured the levels of antibodies in a person's
blood. If increased levels were detected it
showed the person suffered an adverse reaction to a particular food.
Soya, the wonder crop of the 20th century is found in 60 per cent of all
processed foods sold in the UK - from bread to
baby food, ready-to-eat curries to vegetarian lasagne. But because GM and
natural soya are mixed at source in America -
the world's biggest supplier - it has become increasingly difficult for
retailers to guarantee the purity of any products.
Last month campaigners from Greenpeace dumped four tons of GM soya beans
from America at the gates of Downing
Street in protest. The Consumers' Association yesterday renewed its demand
for the Government to investigate the safety
of GM foods. A spokesman said: "We just don't know what health problems
could arise in the future. Waitrose yesterday
announced that it would be stocking its own-label GM-free foods by the end
of the month. Managing director David
Felwick said: "We believe customers should be able to make an informed
choice about the products they are buying."