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s globalization spreads, a number of issues arise which have the potential to affect infant nutrition. One such con- cern is that of Genetically Engineered (GE) or Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and their use in infant for- mulas and infant foods. The process of genetic engineering is imprecise and ran- dom. Inserted genes can disrupt a plant's natural growth and development or function differently than expected. As a consequence, genetically engineered foods can have unintended effects, with potentially harmful conse- quences for human health. The end result could be the biosynthesis of food molecules that are toxic, allergenic, or carcinogenic - hardly the perfect food for babies. Putting Infants and Children at Risk The use of GMOs is of particular concern for infants and young children. Many authorities are concerned because GMOs in baby foods are not adequately tested for safety and should not be used in baby foods as artificially fed infants are dependent on formula as their sole source of food for months on end. Infant formula is already an infe- rior food for babies, putting them at greater risk for a vari- ety of illnesses including ear and upper respiratory infec- tions, asthma, diabetes and cancer. These risks may be increased when infant formula is genetically engineered. GMO ingredients can alter the nutritional value of baby foods, increase exposure to toxins, and elevate the risk of developing allergies and resistance to antibiotics. According to Vyvyan Howard, a toxicological pathologist at the Liverpool University Hospital, "Swapping genes between organisms can produce unknown toxic effects and allergies that are most likely to effect children." In Canada, foods for infants and young children containing GMOs do not require safety testing or labelling. As a result, concerned parents can't avoid feed- ing GE food to their children. Some of the food safety concerns are 1. Allergenicity: Introducing unknown genes can increase food sensitiv- ities that can lead to food allergies later in life. Unlike the contents of breastmilk that vary with the diet of the mother and stage of infancy, the composition of formu- la remains constant. Since food sensitivities increase with exposure, repeated feedings with the same formu- la further increases the risk of allergies. Genetic engineering also has the potential to transfer allergies from one food source to another. For example, a nut gene inserted into soybeans produced soy that caused allergic reactions in people who were allergic to nuts. GE could also introduce new, unpredictable aller- gens from non-food genes inserted through the process of genetic engineering. 2. Toxicity: Genetic engineering could increase and/or introduce new food toxins. 3. Nutritional changes: Genetic engineering could alter or decrease a food's nutritional value. 4. Antibiotic resistance: Genetic engineering could contribute to the growing Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) - Risky Business "Bottle fed babies could be undernourished if given genetically modified infant formula milk because of inadequate regulations and testing regimes for GE foods." The Royal Society Working Group on Genetically Modified Food of the United Kingdom A
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Genetically Modified Organisms - INFACT Canada Modified Organisms.pdf · Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) - Risky Business "Bottle fed babies could be undernourished if given

Jun 29, 2020

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Page 1: Genetically Modified Organisms - INFACT Canada Modified Organisms.pdf · Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) - Risky Business "Bottle fed babies could be undernourished if given

s globalizationspreads, a number of issues arise whichhave the potential to affect infant nutrition. One such con-cern is that of Genetically Engineered (GE) or GeneticallyModified Organisms (GMOs) and their use in infant for-mulas and infant foods.

The process of genetic engineering is imprecise and ran-dom. Inserted genes can disrupt a plant's natural growthand development or function differently than expected. Asa consequence, genetically engineered foods can haveunintended effects, with potentially harmful conse-quences for human health. The end result could be thebiosynthesis of food molecules that are toxic, allergenic,or carcinogenic - hardly the perfect food for babies.

Putting Infants and Children at RiskThe use of GMOs is of particular concern for infants andyoung children. Many authorities are concerned becauseGMOs in baby foods are not adequately tested for safetyand should not be used in baby foods as artificially fedinfants are dependent on formula as their sole source offood for months on end. Infant formula is already an infe-rior food for babies, putting them at greater risk for a vari-ety of illnesses including ear and upper respiratory infec-tions, asthma, diabetes and cancer. These risks may beincreased when infant formula is genetically engineered.GMO ingredients can alter the nutritional value of babyfoods, increase exposure to toxins, and elevate the risk ofdeveloping allergies and resistance to antibiotics.

According to Vyvyan Howard, a toxicologicalpathologist at the Liverpool University Hospital,"Swapping genes between organisms can produceunknown toxic effects and allergies that are most likely toeffect children." In Canada, foods for infants and youngchildren containing GMOs do not require safety testing orlabelling. As a result, concerned parents can't avoid feed-ing GE food to their children.

Some of the food safety concerns are

1. Allergenicity:

Introducing unknown genes can increase food sensitiv-ities that can lead to food allergies later in life. Unlikethe contents of breastmilk that vary with the diet of themother and stage of infancy, the composition of formu-la remains constant. Since food sensitivities increasewith exposure, repeated feedings with the same formu-la further increases the risk of allergies.

Genetic engineering also has the potential to transferallergies from one food source to another. For example,a nut gene inserted into soybeans produced soy thatcaused allergic reactions in people who were allergic tonuts. GE could also introduce new, unpredictable aller-gens from non-food genes inserted through the processof genetic engineering.

2. Toxicity:

Genetic engineering could increase and/or introducenew food toxins.

3. Nutritional changes:

Genetic engineering could alter or decrease a food'snutritional value.

4. Antibiotic resistance:

Genetic engineering could contribute to the growing

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) - Risky Business

"Bottle fed babies could be undernourished ifgiven genetically modified infant formula milkbecause of inadequate regulations and testingregimes for GE foods." The Royal Society Working Group on Genetically Modified Food of theUnited Kingdom

A

Page 2: Genetically Modified Organisms - INFACT Canada Modified Organisms.pdf · Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) - Risky Business "Bottle fed babies could be undernourished if given

problem of antibiotic resistance. Current transgenicplants may contain antibiotic resistant marker genes (atechnique used to show whether gene transfers havebeen successfully completed.) This has prompted med-ical authorities including the British MedicalAssociation, the Royal Society of Canada and theOntario Public Health Association to call for a ban onthe use of antibiotic resistant marker genes in GE foods.

5. Labelling:

Lax labelling laws in many countries encourage the useof GMOs, allowing companies to include these organ-isms in formula and other infant foods without the con-sent of the consumer. The fact that the Canadian gov-ernment refuses to require mandatory labelling ofgenetically engineering food makes it impossible toadequately conduct post-marketing, long-term surveil-lance of the effects of consuming GE food. As a result,food manufacturers and retailers who use GE ingredi-ents in their products or sell them in stores - and whoalso refuse to label GE foods - could be compromisingthe well-being of newborns, babies and children.

Just Say NO to GMO!

The most effective way to voice your concerns aboutGMOs is to vote with your wallet. To ensure the foodsafety of your infants and young children:

Follow the WHO recommendation of exclusive breast-feeding for the first six months of life and continuedbreastfeeding to two years and beyond.

When introducing solid foods, make your own fromorganic fruits and vegetables or buy certified organicbaby foods.

If a baby food doesn't specify whether or not a productis GE-free, use the toll-free number on most productpackaging to call the manufacturer. If they don't know -or won't tell you - if their product contains GE ingredi-ents, don't buy it!

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don't buy it!