Gen-Food study warns against the incalculable risks of genetic engineering animals

Although genetically modified foods are still the exception in Europe, they are not uncommon in the US. GM maize, GM soya and Co are on the table for many consumers. Now it is also possible to sell genetically modified salmon in the USA. Critics warn against hard-to-calculate risks.
Gen-food in Europe not welcome
In Europe, the majority of the population is skeptical about so-called gene food. However, genetically modified foods are no longer a rarity on the other side of the Atlantic. This takes on partially bizarre proportions. For example, reports have been made over the past few years about non-tanning GM apples in the US, as well as manipulated pink pineapples and purple tomatoes for health purposes. However, genetically modified plants are not the end of development. In the US, genetic engineering animals may now also be sold for consumption. Experts warn against incalculable risks.

Genfood: health hazards barely manageable. Image: artfocus - fotolia

Risk to humans and animals
Genetically manipulated livestock are at risk for humans, animals and the environment, according to a new study. According to AFP, the agency's study states: "The use of technologies would be a nightmare for the food industry and consumers because the risks can not be ruled out even with careful scrutiny." The work of the Green Bundestag faction. The study, which was created under the name of "Genetic engineering animals: risk to humans and the environment", draws a parallel to nuclear energy, where there was from the beginning the still unsolved problem with disposal. Also in "Genetic engineering on animals" there is "the inherent problem of a disproportionate increase of difficult to assess risks." As the authors of the Institute for Independent Impact Assessment in Biotechnology, Test Biotech, explained, the risk assessment by the authorities merely has an "alibi function".

Consequences for biodiversity
According to the authors, there is currently a veritable campaign by several companies for the introduction of animals in agriculture, which are manipulated with new genetic engineering methods. But even the goals of individual patents are "questionable". For example, the genetic modification of cow's milk leads to unwanted changes in all milk constituents. And pigs that would become resistant to certain viruses due to genetic modification could possibly become carriers of these pathogens. In the case of insects that have been genetically modified, the spread of the genetic material through cross-breeding with the normal population is even the declared target of the release. It became known, for example, years ago that an attempt was made in Brazil to prevent the spread of dengue fever with genetically modified mosquitoes. The study criticizes the fact that individual countries would not be able to defend themselves against such measures. For biodiversity, the long-term consequences are "neither predictable" nor are the animals "retrievable".

Expert urges government to act
"Genetic engineering animals are another dimension than plants like GM maize," said Genetic Engineering expert for the Green Party, Harald Ebner, to AFP. He explained that their spread was "much less controllable" and that such "irresponsible experiments" should not be allowed. Ebner said that the federal government must ensure that "there will be no approval for GM animals in the EU in the future". Also with regard to the negotiations on free trade agreements with the US and Canada, the chairman of the environmental committee in the Bundestag, Bärbel Höhn (Greens), called for rules for the protection of people and the environment. "Otherwise, we end up having GM products on the market and in nature that may have been passed through all test procedures and can not be retrieved in the event of problems," said Höhn AFP.

For the first time, genetically modified animal product approved
Last November, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a genetically modified animal product for the first time. According to AFP, it allowed the sale of Atlantic salmon, which are treated for faster growth with Pacific salmon genes. In the current study, the arguments of the GM companies are called into question, which referred to the protection against diseases and allergies and the security of world food. The study said that the companies wanted to remodel animal breeding in their favor and sell their patent-protected animals. This was a threat to the existence of farmers and medium-sized breeders. At the same time, this threatens an expansion of industrial factory farming. (Ad)