By buying imported foods with genetically modified components Ukrainian consumers could be risking their health
Sociological studies conducted by the Consumers Institute in Ukraine have shown that 82% of the interviewers would like to see labels on products containing genetically modified (GM) material. However, even the most exacting customers, experts from the Ukrainian Consumers Association believe it far from easy to fulfill such a wish right at present. Ukrainian law does not stipulate testing of imported food products for GM contents. If a shipment of chocolate bars imported into Ukraine contains a significant portion of the GM soy or starch, nobody knows. If you take sweets, chips, beer, dairy and soy products, canned food, and other imported products most popular with Ukrainian customers, for a control check, then, according to Alexander AUSAN, president of the International Organization of Consumers Unions, the presence of GM-contents in many of them will be beyond doubt.
GM-containing food products could be unsafe and toxic, and they can cause allergic reactions, says US Consumers Union’s Dr. Michael HANSEN, who participated in a Consumer Policy and Food Product Safety Studies seminar held in Kyiv early this month. To illustrate, Dr. Hansen referred in his paper to the fact that in March 1996 Nebraska University scientists confirmed that when implanting a Brazil nut gene into soybean it gets from the nut not only an increased protein level, but also the allergen. As a result, people having abnormal reaction to the nut substances, can seriously suffer using the ‘improved’ soy. According to Dr. Hansen, “Virtually any transfer of genes in a vegetable crop leads to the production of some protein. Allergenic reactions are caused precisely by proteins.” Mykola BOIKO , representative of biotechnological company, Monsanto Europe S.A., which tests genetically modified plants, assured journalists at the press conference held before the seminar that no trouble should be expected from GM-containing products, arguing that millions of people eat them all over the world and nobody has died so far.
Indeed, as is known, about 60% of food products in the US contain such ingredients. And, despite the growing concern among the population, Congress is in no hurry to introduce compulsory labels, because itwill entail financial difficulties. In order to label a beer can as “GM-material free,” one would have to track down the field, whence the raw materials were supplied for each of its ingredients. In addition, one can not be certain, for example, that conventional grain and GM- grain did mix not during transportation in the same container.
Russia has recently adopted a law on labeling, however, as yet, in real consumer life Russians do not come across products marked as GM-containing ones. Ukrainian consumers are also concerned that it will be technically difficult to identify GM-components in Ukraine. Still, the Ukrainian Consumers’ Association urges state authorities to get down to identifying and labeling of GM-containing products immediately, saying that every customer has the right to make his or her own choice.
