Posted on 11/03/2012 6:26:28 AM PDT by Renfield
Australian scientists are expressing grave concerns over a new type of genetically engineered wheat that may cause major health problems for people that consume it.
University of Canterbury Professor Jack Heinemann announced the results of his genetic research into the wheat, a type developed by Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), at a press conference last month.
"What we found is that the molecules created in this wheat, intended to silence wheat genes, can match human genes, and through ingestion, these molecules can enter human beings and potentially silence our genes," Heinemann stated. "The findings are absolutely assured. There is no doubt that these matches exist."
Flinders University Professor Judy Carman and Safe Food Foundation Director Scott Kinnear concurred with Heinemann's analysis.
"If this silences the same gene in us that it silences in the wheat -- well, children who are born with this enzyme not working tend to die by the age of about five," Carman said.
Digital Journal contacted Heniemann and Kinnear for more information on their research and future actions they may take regarding this issue.
"To date we have not heard from CSIRO, nor are we aware that CSIRO has released any safety studies into the GM wheat," Kinnear said in an email response. "We are in the final stages of drafting a formal letter to CSIRO which will be requesting further information and asking for them to undertake the studies that are recommended in our reports."
According to the researchers, extended testing should be performed before the wheat is put on store shelves. "We firmly believe that long term chronic toxicological feeding studies are required in addition to the detailed requests made by Heinemann for the DNA sequences used," Kinnear stated.
"The industry routinely does feeding studies anyway, so it should not be too much more difficult to do long term (lifetime) studies and include inhalation studies," Heinemann added. "These should be tuned to the way people would be exposed to the product."
The researchers also cautioned consumers against eating the wheat if it is approved prematurely. "I would advise citizens to request that these tests be done and the evidence meet with their standards of scientific rigour if in the end it is approved for use," said Heinemann.
If the concerns surrounding CSIRO's GM wheat are not resolved, the issue could end up in court, according to Kinnear: "If CSIRO was to consider moving towards human feeding trials without conducting these studies, we would be looking at what legal avenues are available to stop them."
I used to think the same as you.
Then I got Vitamin A poisoning from eating white rice (GMO). To be fair, I took too many supplements and maxed out the Vit A in my liver.
However, I eat rice every day. I had stopped taking supplements and the poisoning got worse. Then I found out that almost all rice has been modified to add lots of Vit A for the benefit of third world kids.
I switched to Non GMO organic brown rice. Problem solved.
If only....
Even so, I'd bet the odds are far better that a stupid gene exists than a fat gene or gay gene. There's just too much of it for any other explanation to be plausible.
Thats all true. :)
Actually the story is more complicated than that although you are correct in surmising his overweight patients did loose weight but that does not explain why his thin and physically fit heart patients also improved. There were also quite intriguing consequences of the diet such as dramatic improvements with arthritis and asthma.
Check it out:
CBS interview -
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7420352n
WHEAT BELLY blog -
http://www.wheatbellyblog.com/featured-articles/
If FreeRepublic has done nothing else in the scientific arena, it has exposed ideology masquerading as science. This new “science” resists examination, refuses debate, and paints its questioners as Luddites who long for a return to the Dark Ages.
Here’s a popular quote you might wish to adopt, as it’ll probably come in handy whenever the ignorant question your authoritative declarations:
“The science is settled. The debate is over.”
He comes to freerepublic same reason I do. We have big problems with the attitudes of global elitists, socialism and corporate welfare. Why do you come to freerepublic?
Genetically engineered food needs to be studied and does not deserve being given a corner on the food market by corrupted politicans giving them special considerations.
Or perhaps, the effort to ban hardier, higher yield, GMOs is spearheaded by the likes of Soros in an effort to starve millions of pesky humans.
FYI
I don't fear debate on this subject. That's absurd. I took issue with the people who fear things they don't understand. Fear of Bt corn, when this particular genetic engineering makes food much safer for consumers, is irrational. If pointing that out gets your panties in a wad, it isn't my fault. Deal.
That's true, I never knew there were so many people who think their fear of pasteurization is somehow based on science.
The science is settled. The debate is over.
The science is never settled. And we'll always have fear mongers and their anti-science.
There are no human clinical trials of genetically engineered foods. The persistence in the human digestive system of DNA from dietary GM plants is unknown. What is the 35 year impact of Bt on the body? We don't know.
Your faith in the big government FDA, EPA, USDA and Monsanto is strong.
Big government always does the right thing. /s
There is an amazing revolving door between Monsanto and the government agencies you so trust. Michael R. Taylor, the FDA's deputy commissioner for policy, wrote the FDA's rBGH labelling guidelines. Taylor was a former lawyer for the Monsanto corporation for seven years. More here. Revolving Door
A little long 94 minutes but full of good information. Genetic Roulette The gamble of our lives
I dont like being on the side of the Greens, but I simply dont trust what our government tells us about the saftey of our food.
Wheat is not alone in its potential unhealthy effects. The year-round consumption of large quantities of carbohydrates is a very recent development in the history of the human body—so recent that it is unlikely that our bodies have evolved to handle it.
How many GMO studies have been conducted on humans? What is the 35 year impact? We don't know. We used to think lead in our paint was OK. People still think mercury in tooth fillings is OK.
A huge gamble I don't want to make. I just don't know the odds.
By the way, rBGH is biochemically identical to the same hormone the cow produces naturally. You should also be aware that bovine growth hormones do not dock with human hormone receptors. Again, your fear is not supported by legitimate science so you are, once again, being irrational.
Demonizing Monsanto is for anti-science agitators and anti-capitalists. Conservatives shouldn't be engaging in such nonsense. By doing so, you are highlighting your lack of scientific knowledge and you are absolutely siding with the green whackos. You should reconsider that posture.
“Or perhaps, the effort to ban hardier, higher yield, GMOs is spearheaded by the likes of Soros in an effort to starve millions of pesky humans.”
Hmmm, I think I’ll sit in the corner and go quietly insane now.
You claim makes this
"What we found is that the molecules created in this wheat, intended to silence wheat genes, can match human genes, and through ingestion, these molecules can enter human beings and potentially silence our genes," Heinemann stated. "The findings are absolutely assured. There is no doubt that these matches exist."
sound like a lie.
Don't make everyone else change for you. There is no 100% food safety. Say that out loud.
And most of all, don't think the the govt is the solution to your food safety!
People with full stomachs have a lot of time to complain and pass laws. When we are starving, we are not so fussy. We have just had many years good growing conditions, not like in the 30’s and 50’s. We think this is the norm. We used to carry a one year supply of grain into the new harvest, now if there is 1,000 bushels over supply we just mis managed in our “just in time” thinking. We think we can manage nature. We have some surprises coming.
A good day is a full stomach as my African friend told me.
Gene’s survive the same way vitamins do... some get broken down, others make it through the stomach/instestine blood barrier for direct absorption.
Asking your question ...think about how medicine works etc. Why are we influenced by hormones etc.
Why do we take some things orally and other intraveneous? That is where your answer rests.
I just don't want Monsanto, ADM, the FDA, EPA, USDA making my food choices.
Look at what the 'junk science' of Ansel Keyes and his "Seven Countries" study did to the American diet. He falsely correlated saturated fats with heart disease. This led to taking fat out of foods. Unfortunately, food without fat tastes like cardboard, so they added sugar. Now obesity and diabetes are at epidemic proportions. All sanctioned by the FDA.
You can continue to eat GMO foods if you want. I choose not to. Just dont make me make your choices.
You can continue to eat GMO foods if you want. I choose not to. Just dont make me make your choices.
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