GMOs in our supermarkets

Information is power and whenever the term GMO is flung around, many a shudder is felt. Are GMO’s unnecessarily demonized and could they be the answer to world hunger? Is there any truth to their alleged cancerous nature? What is the truth behind all the back and forth?

Genetically Modified Organisms have lab-replicated genes from other plants, animals, and even viruses added into it to give it new characteristics; resistance to insects, or to extreme heat and drought. There are two aspects to GMOs in our supermarkets; the whole foods grown and sold that contain GMOs and the packaged items that we use on a regular basis that contain GMOs.

By 2012, Kenya was developing and testing GM crops in maize, cotton, cassava, sweet potatoes, pigeon peas and sorghum. Sorghum has been approved for contained greenhouse trials by the National Biosafety Authority (NBA). These GMO vegetables have not yet been approved for distribution and consumption.

Back in 2010, 240,000 metric tonnes of genetically modified maize was secretly imported into the country and there were fears that the maize had been planted by farmers and was consumed before proper research was done to ascertain their effects. To-date, there has been no concrete conclusions to the investigations launched into this maize scandal in which notable politicians were incriminated.

Our Laws

• The Biosafety Act established the National Biosafety Authority in 2009 to ensure safe handling of GMOs. Kenya was the fourth country in Africa to open up to genetically modified (GM) crops after approving laws to allow their production and importation.
• Kenya banned GMO imports in November 2012 after a cabinet meeting, chaired by Kenya’s former president, Mwai Kibaki, directed the then public health minister, Beth Mugo, to ban them until the country is able to certify that they have no negative impact on people’s health.
• Last year, Romano Kiome, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, said the ban cannot be enforced because it was imposed by the Cabinet, which has no authority in law to do so and that only the National Biosafety Authority has the mandate to create such regulations.
• Our Agriculture Cabinet Secretary believes that GMOs are the answer to stabilizing food security in the country “Bio-based industries such as agriculture, food, bio-energy and bio-based chemicals are playing an increasing role in the growth of developing countries. With growing populations and changing climate, technologies to boost agriculture cannot be ignored. The government recognises the potential that various technologies including genetic modification can offer towards attainment of food security,” he says.
• To-date Kenya’s position is up in the air. International scientists under the auspices of the International Consortium on Applied Bioeconomy Research (ICABR) participating in the just concluded conference, last week in Nairobi have called for streamlined policies and law.

What Science Tells us

The most relied upon scientific study on the harmful nature of GMOs was conducted by the French Professor Gilles-Eric Séralini whose report linked the development of cancerous tumours in rats to consumption of GM glyphosate-tolerant NK603 maize. The study has been criticized for its use of Virgin albino Sprague-Dawley strains of rats which are known to have a high incidence of spontaneous tumours and has been labeled as misleading and was retracted. This year, the study has been republished after going through three rounds of rigorous peer review. The republished study came up with the same results and conclusions. “We propose that agricultural edible GMOs and complete pesticide formulations must be evaluated thoroughly in long-term studies to measure their potential toxic effects,” concludes the study.

Amidst continued criticism of the new study, some scientists have voiced their agreement with it. Dr Michael Antoniou, a molecular geneticist based in London, comments, “Few studies would survive such intensive scrutiny by fellow scientists. The republication of the study after three expert reviews is a testament to its rigour, as well as to the integrity of the researchers. If anyone still doubts the quality of this study, they should simply read the republished paper. The science speaks for itself. If even then they refuse to accept the results, they should launch their own research study on these two toxic products that have now been in the human food and animal feed chain for many years.”

What GMOs are stocked in our Supermarkets?

Genetically Modified Organisms are present in 80% of processed foods on our grocery store shelves. These are just some of them to look out for:

1. Fruit juices use sugar that comes from genetically engineered sugar beets or high-fructose corn syrup. Companies also try to up the fiber content by adding maltodextrins, fiber-like carbohydrates that come from corn. Finally, you have the artificial flavors, which have a good chance of being contaminated with GMO ingredients.
2. Chewing gum: Just because you spit it out doesn’t make it harmless. Most chewing gum plays host to a whole spread of ingredients derived from genetically engineered corn or soy, such as maltodextrin, aspartame, natural or artificial flavors, and xylitol to name a few.
3. Canned fish: When your tuna says it’s “in oil,” that’s typically soybean oil which comes from GMO soy. Even the canned fish “in water” can contain a broth that’s made with soy ingredients. Your healthiest choice is canned fish that contains just fish, and nothing else.
4. Bread: Almost any commercial loaf of bread you pick up will contain high-fructose corn syrup, as well as sugar derived from genetically engineered sugar beets, soy flour, soybean oil or soy lecithin.
5. Baked goods: Baking powder is a mixture of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), cream of tartar (a byproduct of wine making) or an acid such as aluminum or phosphate salts, and cornstarch. The cornstarch is in there to prevent your dough from clumping, but it can be derived from GMO corn.
6. Your Fruit Basket: Imported squash, sweet corn, zucchini and papayas may contain GMOs engineered to fight off viruses that can ruin crops
7. Diary alternatives: If you’re lactose intolerant or adapting a dairy-free diet, there are tons of alternatives like soymilk, rice milk, coconut milk and almond milk. But be sure to grab the organic brands since nonorganic brands contain “natural flavors” and thickeners such as canola oil, each of which can come from GMO crops.
8. “Healthier” dairy products: If you still consume dairy but are trying to cut calories by grabbing low-fat milk, it is important to note that low-fat milk usually has skim milk, cornstarch and other artificial thickeners derived from soy and canola to maintain its creaminess.
9. Dried fruits and vegetables: Do you keep dried fruits or veggies around as a “healthy” snack? In order to keep dried fruits shelf stable, soft and moist, companies add sugar and typically cheap, genetically modified high-fructose corn syrup. As for those tasty, chip-like dehydrated vegetables—they’re usually coated with canola oil to prevent sticking. If you want produce around that won’t spoil, pick up organic, freeze-dried fruits and veggies.

All in all this is not a fear-mongering article. Information is power, it just depends how you decide to use it. An informed opinion on GMOs will assist any stance taken to counter calls for bans or distribution of GMO products our leaders take on behalf of the mwananchi.