Australian imported vegetables should be banned, not nuked

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New Zealand food safety authorities are preparing to allow Australian vegetable imports to be irradiated, because the organophosphate dimethoate is about to be suspended from use for prevention of fruit fly and other biosecurity risks, according to the Soil & Health Association of NZ.

Australian authorities have recommended a suspension of dimethoate from most post-harvest uses by the end of September, following acknowledgement of serious health risks, that organisations such as Soil & Health have been campaigning about for many years. (1)

“The ozone depleting, carcinogenic and neurotoxic methyl bromide fumigant is intended to be used on the vegetables to protect New Zealand from fruit fly, following the dimethoate suspension, while irradiation approvals are sought,” said Steffan Browning, Soil & Health – Organic NZ spokesperson.

“Dimethoate in New Zealand is due to be reassessed next year by the Environmental Protection Authority and has a current Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) of 2 mg/kg in most vegetables, yet the European Union’s MRL’s are generally 0.02 or 0.05mg/kg purposely set at the lower level of detection. Dimethoate should be banned for all uses in New Zealand immediately.” (2)

New Zealand prohibits the import of fruit fly host material from Australia that is considered to be of economic risk, unless it has been suitably treated.

“Keeping production local will prevent the need for New Zealand diets to consist of risky nutritionally altered nuked foods or the use of dangerous fumigants or other systemic pesticides.”

“We were right about the health risks of organophosphates such as dimethoate, and we are right about irradiation and methyl bromide. All are implicated in nervous system failure and risk of cancers. Why do we want them? We don’t.”

“Just as Australian potato growers do not want New Zealand potatoes imported there, because of the risk of the economically damaging psyllid arriving from New Zealand, Australian tomatoes, capsicum, cucumbers and zucchini and fruit with risk of fruit fly infestation should not be imported here.”

“Fruit fly outbreaks are just a matter of time while Australian imports continue. The economic cost of fruit fly to our horticulture would leave for dead, the cost of recent and expensive biosecurity failures such as psyllid and varroa mite,” said Mr Browning.

“Both countries are capable of growing the vegetables at risk, and do not need to import them to feed our peoples. Local production is healthier for people and the environment.”

“Mangoes and lychee already permitted by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) to be irradiated for import to New Zealand, can be sourced from fruit fly risk free countries, and there is a range of alternative phyto-sanitary techniques, such as heat or cold treatments, controlled atmospheres, and ozone treatments that can be used if imports are still seen as critical.”(3)

“Steritech, Australia’s current food irradiation business has been lobbying for irradiation of produce intended for New Zealand, and uses misleading risk information. Steritech also says that New Zealand imported 1095 tonne of irradiated mangoes and 110 tonne of irradiated lychees in 2010, while FSANZ says 460 tonne and 33 respectively.”(4,3)

“The same agencies that previously approved dimethoate and other proven dangerous pesticides in New Zealand food, are now using the same public relations ‘Fact Sheets’ spin purporting the safety of irradiation in food.”

Food irradiation uses waste from the nuclear energy industry and the food is exposed to radiation levels that create new risky compounds, while reducing nutrient levels. Cats fed irradiated food consistently suffer spinal cord damage. One outbreak occurred in Australia between June 2008 and March 2009 (Child et al., 2009). 87 domestic cats developed symmetrical hindlimb ataxia, paraparesis, tetraparesis, paraplegia or tetraplegia following eating imported irradiated pet food. (5)

Soil & Health – Organic NZ promotes local organic production without the use of dangerous pesticides, fumigants or irradiation.

(1) http://www.apvma.gov.au/products/review/current/dimethoate_faq.php#suspe…

(2) http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/doc/2146.pdf

(3) http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/consumerinformation/foodirradiation.cfm

(4) http://www.steritech.com.au/sites/default/files/irradiation_as_option_fo…

(5) http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/doc/1930.pdf Page 31

 

 

CONTACT:

The Soil & Health Association of NZ – Organic NZ

Spokesperson
Steffan Browning
021 725655
campaign@organicnz.org

Plant & Food Research shifted GE soil illegally?

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Where has Plant & Food Research taken the contaminated soil excavated from its botched genetically engineered brassicas  Lincoln field trial site, and why weren’t stakeholders kept informed of changes to the compliance controls, the Soil & Health Association of NZ is asking.(1,2)

In December 2008 Soil & Health – Organic NZ discovered an illegally flowering  genetically engineered (GE) kale plant (3) and several other flowering brassicas that had set seed pods among weeds at the Lincoln field trial site of Crown Research Institute Plant & Food Research. (4,5,6,7)

The field trial was immediately closed and following an intensive investigation that revealed other GE flowering events, strict controls were imposed for at least 5 years to limit the spread of any GE material from the site.

“Plant & Food have now extended the contamination by removing the heavily herbicide-sprayed and GE contaminated soil from the trial site late last year in an effort to reduce compliance efforts,” said Soil & Health spokesperson Steffan Browning.

“This soil removal appears to be illegal under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act (HSNO), although Plant & Food had expressed a commitment to Soil & Health – Organic NZ to meeting whatever new controls were imposed, following my discovery of the flowering GE kale in 2008.”

“Plant & Food needs to make public the details of where the soil is, and what exact GE constructs were used in the original trial so that independent testing of crops in the Lincoln area can occur.”

Brassica species include vegetable plants such as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, mustard, radish, turnip, rocket, rape, kohlrabi, brussels sprouts, mizuna and several weeds. Brassicas are able to cross easily between species and Plant & Food grew several GE and non GE brassica species at the site where a weed brassica, wild turnip, was also reported.

Although  Plant & Food have removed  contaminated soil to more than 250mm depth, Soil & Health – Organic NZ has recent photographs of a brassica and weed seedlings at the Lincoln GE field trial site, suggesting seed bearing top soil was spilt or the weeds have herbicide resistance.(8,9)

“What GE contaminated soil was spilt during transport from the GE field trial site to its new GE contaminated home?” asked Mr Browning.

“The removed soil is likely to have both seed and soil organisms contaminated by the previous GE program. If the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) and Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry – Biosecurity NZ are complicit in the soil removal, then New Zealand’s GE regulatory system has totally broken down as there has been no public notification or application for a new GE site.”

“Plant & Food’s failed GE onion field trial location also needs to be made public, along with the exact GE constructs used there, so that civil society can ensure independent monitoring of potential contamination in the surrounding area.”

“Soil & Health – Organic NZ is committed to a vision of an organic focused nation where Plant & Food Research and the other Crown Research Institutes resources are committed to a clean green 100% Pure GE Free Aotearoa New Zealand.”
NOTES:

NZ food samples still stacked with pesticide residues

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Joint Media  Release:
Pesticide Action Network Aotearoa New Zealand
and
Soil & Health Association of New  Zealand (Est. 1941), Publishers of ORGANIC NZ

——  ——

  • Pesticide residues found in 93% of targeted fruit and vege samples
  • Prohibited endosulfan again in cucumber samples
  • 11 out of 23 Pak choi samples with residues exceeding allowable levels
  • 26 different pesticides found among 24 grape samples
  • One grape sample containing 10 different pesticides
  • Organic fruit & vege free of synthetic pesticides

The Soil & Health Association and the  Pesticide Action Network Aotearoa NZ are calling for an attitude change in New Zealand’s food safety regulators following two very similar pesticide residue result reports in 3 months, and, despite evidence to the contrary, continued assurances that there is no food safety issue.

In the latest results food tested for the New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA), from 152 samples, just 7% had no pesticide residues and there were 18 examples of residues above Maximum Residue Limits. Foods sampled were bananas, Bok or Pak choi, broccoli, cucumber, grapes, nectarines, oranges and wheat.

Among 22 of 24 grape samples there were 26 different chemicals found with one grape sample containing 10 different residues, another with 8, another 7, four with six, four with 5, six with four different residues, and only two each with 2 or 3 residues. Only 2 grape samples had no detectable residues.

All broccoli, nectarines and oranges contained pesticide residues. Organic produce is not expected to contain any synthetic pesticide residues; however the few grapes and other produce not containing residues were not identified by production method.

“NZFSA is privy to the science proving the danger of pesticides, especially in mixtures, but fails to acknowledge the risks to consumers,” said Soil & Health – Organic NZ spokesperson Steffan Browning.

“Cancers, endocrine disruption, foetal abnormalities, neurological disease and many other conditions have been proven to be associated with pesticides as found in NZFSA residue surveys, yet in the name of trade, NZFSA, Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) and Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) continue to allow unnecessary chemical use and residues.”

“There are organic means of production that do not necessitate use of synthetic chemicals, that also provide more nutritious and safer food than the New Zealand food regulators are supporting. It is time for a new focus on food production and safety.”

“As in the last survey results, the banned chemical endosulfan has once again been found in cucumbers, and half of the Bok and Pak choi samples had illegal residue levels,” said Dr Meriel Watts of Pesticide Action Network Aotearoa New Zealand.

“The countries of the European Union are all embarking on developing national pesticide reduction policies, and once again New Zealand is lagging behind.”

“Despite discussions with the Food Saftey Authority over a number of years, we have not been able to get them to even acknowledge that reducing residues in our food would be a good idea.”

“The EU is also working to find ways of addressing the problem of increased toxicity from exposure to multiple pesticides, yet NZFSA still will not acknowledge that such a thing exists, let alone the need to reduce exposures to multiple chemicals.”

“What will it take for the NZFSA to catch on to the problem? A 93% rate of contamination of our food supply with pesticides is totally unacceptable,” added Dr Watts.

“A fresh approach to food and community safety is needed in New Zealand,” said Mr Browning.

“With continued strong growth in organics internationally, it is time that organic production targets such as in Soil & Health’s Organic 2020 vision, were taken on for the well being of New Zealand’s environmental, economic and human health”
 

Latest test samples showing detectable residues.

Banana             1 of   24 with no detectable residue
Choi                   1 of  23
Broccoli             0 of  24
Cucumber         6 of  25
Grapes               2 of  24
Nectarines        0 of  4
Oranges            0 of  24
Wheat               1 of  6

REFERENCES from the 28 July joint media release. All remain pertinent.
(1) Results can be found on  the NZFSA website at http://www.nzfsa.govt.nz/science/research-projects/food-residues-surveil… July 2010 results spreadsheet, season 1 [Excel 59 KB  or through http://www.nzfsa.govt.nz/publications/media-releases/2010/2010-07-26-frs…
(2) Chlorothalonil is a fungicide in the same family as hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and pentachlorophenol. In New Zealand, Chlorothalonil is applied to a variety of fruit, vegetables and ornamentals for the control of various diseases including among others powdery mildew, blackspot, botrytis, blight, and leaf spot. It is also used in antifouling paints and timber antisapstains.
(3) Lodovici, M. et al 1994,1997 http://tiny.cc/goony  or http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6TCN-3RH123D-6… These results indicate that the toxicity of low doses of pesticide mixtures present in food might be further reduced by eliminating diphenylamine and chlorothalonil.
Kortenkamp &  Backhaus. 2009.  State of the Art Report on Mixture Toxicity. Final  Report .Executive Summary. 22 December 2009.
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/chemicals/pdf/report_Mixture%20toxicity…. “Scientific research has repeatedly demonstrated that the effects of mixtures are considerably more pronounced than the effect of each of its individual components and that environmental pollution is from chemical mixtures and not from individual substances. This clearly underlines the need for dedicated regulatory considerations of the problem of chemical mixtures.”
(4) http://www.massey.ac.nz/massey/about-us/news/article.cfm?mnarticle=femal…
(5) http://checkorphan.getreelhealth.com/grid/news/all/individuals-who-apply… and  http://tiny.cc/rgl83  orhttp://bloodjournal.hematologylibrary.org/cgi/content/abstract/113/25/63…

Call for independent biosecurity conducts authority

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Soil & Health – Organic NZ has joined Federated Farmers call for an independent biosecurity conducts authority to independently investigate biosecurity incursions and complaints against the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry – Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ).

“An independent biosecurity conducts authority may also recommend better government resourcing for MAFBNZ to enable better incursion responses and surveillance monitoring,” said Soil & Health – Organic NZ spokesperson Steffan Browning.

MAFBNZ lost $1.9 million base line funding in the May budget.

“Soil & Health was appalled when jobs were axed because of the budget cuts. The government used a drop in trade as its reason, although biosecurity measures both at the border and internally needed improving, not diluting.”

“Soil & Health has repeatedly discovered breaches at genetic engineering (GE) field trials that MAFBNZ was meant to be monitoring, then MAFBNZ became the investigator and judge. While MAFBNZ has significant strengths and should be commended for what it has achieved, it also has serious deficiencies and ultimately lacks independence.”

“MAF is its own bender of rules, policeman, detective, and judge and jury. There must be a better system.”

“Soil & Health has graphic examples of MAF cover-ups at both Scion and Plant & Food Research’s GE field trial breaches, and AgResearch’s GE animal trials are not adequately monitored. Give MAFBNZ more staff resources to do the job properly and create an independent watchdog to ensure it happens,” added Mr Browning.

Varroa and now the parasite Nosema ceranae are affecting the bee industry and new horticultural pests are consistently arriving in New Zealand.

“Continued   new pest incursions and GE field trial breaches that are not satisfactorily explained, justify Federated Farmers biosecurity spokesperson John Hartnell’s call for an  Independent Biosecurity Conducts Authority.”

“Both Soil & Health and Federated Farmers members recognise the huge economic impact of biosecurity breaches. Government knows that there are risks to all primary production and tourism by poor biosecurity protection. It must improve the situation quickly.”

“Soil & Health promotes environmental sustainability and supports the validating of New Zealand’s clean green 100% Pure brand, including pesticide reduction. Less pests, less pesticides.”

GE Food Ingredients Need Immediate Investigation

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News today from GE Free NZ shows that a complex pesticide riddled genetically engineered (GE) corn, Smartstax, is being allowed into the New Zealand food supply without assessment by food regulators.(1)

Already 64 GE food lines and more than 14 GE food processing aids have been allowed through the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) assessment process, but none have contained anything like the 6 insecticides and 2 herbicide resistant genes that are contained in the Monsanto/Dow Chemicals Smartstax, according to the Soil & Health Association who have included in their Organic NZ magazine a list of New Zealand allowed GE food ingredients. (2,3)

“In the last 10 months FSANZ has allowed 3 more GE food lines into the food supply and is assessing another 6, but now FSANZ is allowing more complex and untested GE foods through without assessment,” said Soil & Health – Organic NZ spokesperson Steffan Browning.

“FSANZ has yet to decline an application for a GE food despite important animal feeding studies showing multi-generational infant mortalities, disorders of the reproductive, immune and blood clotting systems, and increased cases of pre-cancerous growths, and anti-nutrient effects.”

GE plant lines approved include canola, corn, potato, cotton, soy bean, lucerne (alfalfa), sugarbeet, and rice. Further GE corn, cotton and soybean applications are being processed. At least fourteen approved microbial-based food processing aids have also been approved.

“Food Safety Minister Kate Wilkinson needs to ensure a comprehensive review of imported GE foodstuffs, the gene constructs involved, whether they have been assessed, and whether GE foods are labeled in the supermarkets.”

“There is significant non-compliance in GE labeling and neither FSANZ nor the Minister’s New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) is monitoring what is happening.”

“Until monitoring, or a safe precautionary approach, by the food safety authorities occurs, consumers can only confidently purchase processed foods if certified organic or GE/GMO Free labelled products,” said Mr Browning.

“The list of ingredients published in Organic NZ that may be derived from GE canola, corn, cotton or soy, is so broad that most processed foods sold in supermarkets will be at risk of GE contamination now, unless labeled GE/GMO Free or certified organic. The Organic NZ list of GE enzymes further reduces the uncontaminated product range.”

“FSANZ is ignoring mounting evidence of health risks from GE foods, just as it ignores serious health issues from pesticide residues in food. The same situation of complex mixtures and toxicity arise with GE as in pesticides, which FSANZ also fails to investigate properly.”

“Research has shown that pesticides in combination have toxicity effects greater than the expected sum, but FSANZ who sets food standards for Australia and New Zealand, generally appears to be a food industry puppet and is focused on facilitating trade ahead of exercising a precautionary approach to human health.”

“The latest New Zealand FSANZ Board member has simultaneously been made chairman of the Crown Forest Research Agency Scion, similarly reckless with GE, albeit in the environment. However with his previous experience as Chief Executive of successful GE Free trading Zespri, Mr Tony Nowall may understand that blindly following a GE path can have disadvantages.”(4, 5)

“FSANZ and NZFSA are too quick to accept GE company pseudo science and have consistently ignored the concerns of those providing precautionary advice including from highly experienced Australian and New Zealand GE scientists,” said Mr Browning.

“In 2007, following intense scientific debate following the release of previously blocked Monsanto data on rat GE feeding studies of MON 863 corn, a FSANZ staff member said that no independent feeding tests or independent assessments of company data are necessary and confidential company data are fine for safety assessments.”

It was found that the rats fed with the GM corn showed signs of toxicity in the liver and kidneys compared with those fed non-GM corn. Possible hormone alteration was also shown.

“The Food Safety Minister has the power to order an inquiry into why GE food labelling isn’t happening and why FSANZ is dismissing caution and allowing inadequately tested GE foods into New Zealand.”

The Soil & Health Association of New Zealand Inc is in its 70th year, and is the largest membership organisation supporting organic food and farming in New Zealand, and as such advocates for healthy and safe food and environmental sustainability. It has a vision of an Organic 2020 that does not include GE food, animals, trees or crops.
NOTES
GE Free in food & environment Smartstax GE corn media release, Smartstax GE Corn Leaves Food Standards Authority in Disarray, and contacts below.

REFERENCES
(1) GE Free NZ in food & environment media statement further below.
(2) http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/consumerinformation/gmfoods/gmcurrentapp…
(3) Organic NZ July/August 2010 http://www.organicnz.org/organic-nz-magazine/ge-dont-swallow-it/
(4) http://www.infonews.co.nz/news.cfm?l=1&t=92&id=54292
(5) http://www.rotoruadailypost.co.nz/local/news/former-zespri-ceo-one-of-tw…

Smartstax GE Corn Leaves Food Standards Authority in Disarray

The Food Standards Authority Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is in disarray, issuing conflicting reports that are vague and elusive, over the entry into the food chain of a new Monsanto/Dow Chemical pesticide filled GE corn variety, “Genuity Smartstax”. The new variety of corn is “stacked” with a combination of six different insecticidal and two herbicide tolerant genes that have never been assessed. [1]

In Australia, FSANZ has given MADGE [2] an understanding that Smartstax has been approved even though the levels of the pesticides being produced in the corn are unknown, safety parameters for human ingestion have never been set, and despite the scientific evidence that the combination of different gene insertions could produce further chemical or protein allergens.

“Replies to Freedom of Information Act requests by GE Free NZ to FSANZ reveal the Authority is unclear whether Smartstax has been regulated to enter the food chain, claiming they have no information,” [3] says Claire Bleakley from GE Free NZ in food and environment.

“But in further correspondence they claim it does not require assessment because approval had previously been given for the individual genetic modifications. Such an approach cannot be scientifically justified and presents a new level of threat to food safety.”

The International Codex Alimentarius rules [4] and the FSANZ standard 1.5.2 -1 (b) clearly states that any plant that has been genetically engineered or any plant that is derived or descended from a GE parent line even if conventionally bred has to be assessed for safety. [5]

“Smartstax has been engineered in the laboratory to contain the stacked genes with a toxic cocktail of traits that can have unique combined effects irrespective of reassurances that individual genes have been assessed for safety” said Mrs. Bleakley.

The Smartsatx corn is being grown on 4 million acres in the Corn Belt of America and the chemical cocktail of Bt insecticides kill caterpillars and release the Bt toxin to kill soil micro organisms below ground. The corn survives being sprayed with high levels of herbicides that are absorbed into the grain, and which cannot be washed off or boiled away.

American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) called for a moratorium; implementation of long term safety testing with epidemiological research and methods to determining the effects of GE foods on human health.  They asked Physicians to educate their patients, the medical community, and the public to avoid GM foods when possible.
“…GM foods pose a serious health risk in the areas of toxicology, allergy and immune function, reproductive health, and metabolic, physiologic and genetic health and are without benefit.” [6]

“As FSANZ has not regulated the Smartstax corn it must not allow it any where near our food supply as it could severely harm consumer’s health. The corn produces high levels of toxic insecticides which have been linked to damage to internal organs, digestive complications, sterility, allergies and sudden deaths [7],” says Claire Bleakley. “There are still no diagnostic tools to detect if rising levels of allergies, digestive irritability and skin diseases could be attributable to the increasing levels of GE in our diet.”

“The Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is mandated to evaluate any genetically engineered food and assess its safety. Its mission statement is to protect the health of the public, and they must immediately uphold public safety and stop the corn product from entering our food supply”.

References –
[1] Genuity Smartstax – http://www.genuity.com/Traits/Corn/Genuity-SmartStax.aspx
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3biM4OlC_QE&feature=related
[2] MADGE press release http://www.madge.org.au/Docs/MR-100715-Smartstax.pdf

[3] Responses to GE Free NZ  requests from the FSANZ Acting General Counsel state:
“…FSANZ has previously approved all of the parental plant lines that have been used to conventionally breed Smartstax variety, under FSANZ‘s rules conventionally bred progeny of approved GE lines do not require specific approval”.

[4] GUIDELINE FOR THE CONDUCT OF FOOD SAFETY ASSESSMENT OF FOODS DERIVED FROM RECOMBINANT-DNA PLANT; CAC/GL 45-2003;
Paragraph 14. [..]. Unintended effects in recombinant-DNA plants may also arise through the insertion of DNA sequences and/or they may arise through subsequent conventional breeding of the recombinant-DNA plant. Safety assessment should include data and information to reduce the possibility that a food derived from a recombinant-DNA plant would have an unexpected, adverse effect on human health.

[5] FSANZ standard 1.5.2 under the definition 1(b), 1(b)(ii) 1(b)(i) http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/_srcfiles/Standard_1_5_2_GM_v116.pdf

[6] Position paper on Genetically Modified Foods.  American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM), 2009, http://www.aaemonline.org/gmopost.html

[7] de Vendômois JS, Roullier F, Cellier D, Séralini GE. A Comparison of the Effects of Three GM Corn Varieties on Mammalian Health. Int J Biol Sci 2009; 5:706-726. http://www.biolsci.org/v05p0706.htm
www.gefree.org.nz

New Zealand animal cloning needs to stop

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New Zealand needs a ban on animal cloning, food from cloned animals, and a verification process for imported foods to ensure compliance for New Zealand consumers, according to the Soil & Health Association of New Zealand.

Soil & Health also wants the New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) to clarify the position it has been promoting internationally against labelling food from cloned animals. And for Fonterra to state unequivocally its opposition to cloning and genetic engineering of animals and pasture.

Following a leakage of beef and possibly milk from cloned animals into the British food chain, the EU Parliament has called for new EU legislation to be developed, to expressly prohibit foods from cloned animals and their descendants, with a moratorium on their sale in the meantime.

However, NZFSA, representing New Zealand at Codex Alimentarius meetings where international food standards and labelling rules are set, has opposed labeling of food from cloned animals.

‘By supporting AgResearch’s cruel genetically engineered (GE) animal cloning at Ruakura, and the international sales of the GE technology or its products, NZFSA has taken a position that is contrary to New Zealanders and consumers worldwide,” said Soil & Health – Organic NZ spokesperson Steffan Browning.

“The technology is cruel and has a track record of very few live births, with resultant offspring prone to a variety of disabilities including arthritis, respiratory distress, deformities and ruptured ovaries.”

“AgResearch was involved with the failed PPL Therapeutics’ farming at Whakamaru of four thousand cloned GE ‘Dolly’ type sheep which suffered respiratory and other defects, ahead of the company’s failure and the sheeps’ destruction in 2003. AgResearch continues the same misery at Ruakura with GE cows, and new GE approvals by the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) for goats and more sheep.”

AgResearch recently was found to have allowed calves to die from ruptured ovaries. AgResearch’s applied technologies group manager, Dr. Jimmy Suttie, was quoted in May as saying he did not see the deaths as a “big deal”, they were part of the learning process for scientists. In 2007, following a highly contentious USDA report on the safety of food from cloned animals, Dr. Suttie said there was nothing to stop cloned animals from entering the food chain, but it was not happening because of international consumer preference.

“That same international consumer preference prevails and Dr Suttie’s cruel experiments need to stop before New Zealand is recognised as the centre of cruel cloning,” said Mr Browning.

In 2007, Fonterra spokesman David Anderson said Fonterra did not use cloning or genetic engineering technology and was committed to not using it at this stage. Customer demand meant Fonterra had not looked at using such technologies, and “there is nothing in the wind”, he had said.

“However, Fonterra needs to be unequivocal about its position on cloning and genetic engineering if it wants to retain the advantages of trading under the clean green 100% Pure New Zealand brand,” said Mr Browning, “Fonterra is tied to genetically engineered pasture development through its science links and AgResearch, yet traditional breeding and greener pasture management can achieve improved value.”

“What is the position of Fonterra this week? That, ‘there is nothing in the wind’, doesn’t cut it. What is it to be?”

“GE rye grass and clover and cloned animals for supposed productivity, or a clean green naturally developed pasture feeding well bred and cared for animals supplying a valued product that consumers actually want. What does research tell you?”

“New Zealanders need to be sure our research institutes and leading companies such as Fonterra are sharing in the clean green 100% Pure brand, and government needs to be right there with them, sharing the Kiwi vision.”

“AgResearch and NZFSA, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), and Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), all have culpability in supporting experiments and trade in cloned animal products that are repugnant to most people.”

“New Zealand’s pro-cloned animal position internationally does not reflect what the customer wants and contradicts New Zealand’s clean green 100% Pure trading image.”

Soil & Health has a vision of an Organic 2020 where new technologies do not compromise genuine environmental sustainability but support biological and organic management systems that are animal friendly and do not use synthetic additives.

Pesticide Residues in Food – Worst Ever

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The Food Safety Authority’s latest pesticide residue results are a nightmare: they are the worst results I have ever seen,” said Dr Meriel Watts of Pesticide Action Network Aotearoa New Zealand.(1)

* Pesticide residues found in 94% of targeted fruit and vege samples

* Prohibited endosulfan in 11 of 23 cucumber samples

* Dangerous fungicide exceeding allowable levels in 9 out of 24 Pak choi samples

* 18 different pesticides found among 24 grape samples

* Organic fruit & vege free of synthetic pesticides

“For a start, fully 94% of the samples of fruit and vegetables contained residues – including all of the oranges, grapes, bok choi, and nectarines. Then there are endosulfan residues in 11 out of 23 cucumber samples: either this is illegal use of a banned insecticide or the cucumbers have been imported from Australia.  And 9 out of 24 bok and pak choi samples contained illegal levels of chlorothalonil.”

Endosulfan is a highly toxic organochlorine insecticide that has been banned in at least 65 countries, the most recent being USA and Brazil.

“New Zealand banned endosulfan in 2008, effective from Jan 2009. NZFSA must fully investigate whether these residues result from New Zealand growers illegally using remaining stocks that should have been disposed of by January 2010, or whether we are importing residues from Australia.”

Australia is one of the few remaining countries still using endosulfan, despite the pesticide facing a likely global ban through the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants next year.

“If we are going to be importing endosulfan-containing food from countries such as Australia then the food should be labelled with country of origin so that buyers can avoid it. But if the residues result from New Zealand growers then the book should be thrown at them”, said Dr Watts.

“The New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) is being extremely negligent about New Zealanders’ health when it plays down the safety risks of illegal levels of the fungicide chlorothalonil (e.g. Bravo),” said Soil & Health spokesperson Steffan Browning.(2)

“NZFSA is well aware of important research which shows even low levels of chlorothalonil increase the toxicity of pesticide mixtures which are implicated in blood disorders and cancers. However when NZFSA targets food products likely to have pesticide residues, and finds chlorothalonil in worrying pesticide mixtures, it tells the public their food is safe. Wrong, wrong!”(3)

“Food Safety’s own Maximum Residue Levels (MRL) as a measure of best agricultural practice have a 50 fold variation of chlorothalonil residue acceptance between different brassicas, and although Massey University research has shown a link between workers using pesticides and leukaemia, and United States government health staff found chlorothalonil increased risks up to 5.8 times of a blood disorder that can lead to multiple myeloma, NZFSA feels it can tell New Zealanders their food is safe even when Bok choi and broccoli had multiple residues containing chlorothalonil.”(4,5)

“Vegetables produced organically will not contain chlorothalonil, as fungicides such as Bravo and similar pesticides are prohibited in all New Zealand organic standards, and genuine organic growers produce in a more sustainable manner,” said Mr Browning

“We are unwittingly exposing ourselves to a veritable cocktail of chemicals with every mouthful of food we eat,” commented Alison White, Co-convenor of the Safe Food Campaign.  “One of the foods most likely to contain residues are grapes: a total of 18 pesticides were found in 24 samples in this survey.  These residues included the organophosphate chlorpyrifos, which has been found to interfere with the brain and central nervous system, with the prenatal brain being especially vulnerable to low doses.  A study published this year showed that children with higher levels of the organophosphate insecticides in their urine were more likely to have ADHD.”

“Many grape samples also contained the dithiocarbamate fungicides, which may contain a breakdown product or metabolite called ETU.  This metabolite interferes with our hormonal system and exposing young brains to this may result in effects on their learning ability, behaviour, reproduction and increased susceptibility to cancer.  Our children are at unnecessary risk because we continue to accept these residues on our food,” concluded Ms White.  She counselled those who were pregnant and young children especially to avoid grapes and other imported fruit  and instead buy local and organic so their pesticide intake could be reduced.”

“A fresh approach to food and community safety is needed in New Zealand and with massive growth in organics internationally, it is time that organic production targets, such as in Soil & Health’s Organic 2020 vision, were taken on for the well being of New Zealand’s environmental, economic and human health,” said Mr Browning.

Healthy Soil, Healthy Plants, Healthy People.

——— ———–

NOTES & REFERENCES
(1) Results can be found on  the NZFSA website at http://www.nzfsa.govt.nz/science/research-projects/food-residues-surveillance-programme/      July 2010 results spreadsheet, season 1 [Excel 59 KB  or throughhttp://www.nzfsa.govt.nz/publications/media-releases/2010/2010-07-26-frsp-results.htm
(2) Chlorothalonil is a fungicide in the same family as hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and pentachlorophenol. In New Zealand, Chlorothalonil is applied to a variety of fruit, vegetables and ornamentals for the control of various diseases including among others powdery mildew, blackspot, botrytis, blight, and leaf spot. It is also used in antifouling paints and timber antisapstains.
(3) Lodovici, M. et al 1994,1997 http://www.tiny.cc/goony
or  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6TCN-3RH123D-6&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_searchStrId=935242972&_rerunOrigin=google&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=c8e96fd36709a6617d101f34322937c4
These results indicate that the toxicity of low doses of pesticide mixtures present in food might be further reduced by eliminating diphenylamine and chlorothalonil.
Kortenkamp &  Backhaus. 2009.  State of the Art Report on Mixture Toxicity. Final  Report .Executive Summary. 22 December 2009.
http://www.ec.europa.eu/environment/chemicals/pdf/report_Mixture%20toxicity.pdf    “Scientific research has repeatedly demonstrated that the effects of mixtures are considerably more pronounced than the effect of each of its individual components and that environmental pollution is from chemical mixtures and not from individual substances. This clearly underlines the need for dedicated regulatory considerations of the problem of chemical mixtures.”
(4) http://www.massey.ac.nz/massey/about-us/news/article.cfm?mnarticle=female-farm-workers-at-highest-risk-of-leukaemia-15-06-2009
(5) http://checkorphan.getreelhealth.com/grid/news/all/individuals-who-apply-pesticides-are-found-have-double-risk-blood-disorder?from=checkorphan.org
and  http://www.tiny.cc/rgl83
or http://www.bloodjournal.hematologylibrary.org/cgi/content/abstract/113/25/6386?maxtoshow=&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=Pesticide+exposure+and+risk+of+monoclonal++&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&sortspec=relevance&resourcetype=HWCIT

Caged Poultry Farmer’s Imprisonment Justifies Animal Liberators Efforts

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The New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) is to be congratulated for successfully prosecuting a poultry farmer for animal welfare offences, but should be exposing other cruel poultry farmers, according to the Soil & Health Association of NZ.
Gerard Bogaart, trading as Golden Harvest Poultry, was yesterday sentenced by Judge McAuslan to 12 months in prison under the Animal Welfare Act for the wilful ill-treatment of broiler hens and roosters in his care and for two months concurrently for failing to provide for their physical, health and behavioural needs. (1)
“Considering Golden Harvest proudly quotes 46 years in the industry, audits of all large scale broiler hen and egg operations should be undertaken immediately,” said Soil & Health spokesperson Steffan Browning. (2)
“Animal rights activists such as Animal Liberation Front, Auckland Animal Action and SAFE, have been doing fantastic public service in raising the attention of agencies and the public to the cruel practices followed by cage poultry farmers.”
“It appears that NZFSA only showed interest after the Animal Liberation Front (ALF), in 2007, publicised continued animal welfare issues by poultry farmer Gerard Bogaart, who had also been convicted in 1996 for cruelty to sheep in his care. Similar action by ALF in 2004 at Bogaart’s poultry operation had not inspired NZFSA it seems.”(3)
The NZFSA attention against Golden Harvest initially was to get compliance with food safety risk management plans. Animal welfare considerations only followed when enforcement against illegal egg and poultry sales was undertaken.”
“While NZFSA staff became deeply concerned with animal welfare considerations, they should not have waited for more than a year ahead of enforcement, while poultry continued to be treated in a cruel and disgusting way.”
“1100 birds had to be euthanased to relieve their suffering when action against illegal sales was finally taken. Action against all cruel poultry farmers needs to be taken immediately, whether illegally trading or not.”
NZFSA’s media release 25 May included;
“In early 2007 NZFSA served a notice of direction on the company to cease the sale of poultry and eggs as well as slaughter of poultry, which Mr Van Den Bogaart continued to disregard.
Prior to the operation, NZFSA had tried in vain to help Mr Van Den Bogaart make his operation compliant by developing a Risk Management Programme (RMP), which is a legal requirement for all poultry slaughterhouses and all egg producers with more than 100 female birds.
In June 2008 New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) investigators and Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) investigators – assisted by police, local council officers and a veterinarian – executed NZFSA search warrants on two rural properties in South Auckland that Van Den Bogaart was operating from. This was done under provisions of the Animal Products Act on the basis of the suspected illegal slaughter and sale of poultry and eggs to a number of Auckland retailers.”
“Compliance with food safety was never going to attend to all animal welfare concerns, and NZFSA’s Risk Management Programme for poultry makes little difference to human health in NZ. However, the removal of all caged and crate farming operations would improve animal welfare conditions for millions of chickens, ducks, and pigs,” said Mr Browning.
“Clearly, Bogaart and his Golden Harvest operation was a bad example among poultry farmers, but all caged poultry farmers need immediate inspection.”
“Bogaart has been removed from his cruel business, but the leaders of the cruel caged poultry industry best not feel complacent. Thinking consumers and animal welfare proponents such as Soil & Health will not rest until the hens are out of the cages.”
Soil & Health supports humane free range and organic poultry farming which fits with its vision of an Organic 2020.
Notes:

Links accessed May 2010
(1) http://www.nzfsa.govt.nz/publications/media-releases/2010/2010-01-22-van-den-bogaart-sentencing.htm
(2) http://www.finda.co.nz/business/listing/y0rl/golden-harvest-poultry/
(3) http://www.indymedia.org.nz/article/72934/activists-liberate-25-battery-hens-convi

Muesli – not as healthy as it seems, unless it’s organic

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The latest results from the New Zealand Food Safety Authority’s (NZFSA) Total Diet Survey raise concerns about the number of pesticides being found in muesli.
The 4th quarter sampling for the 2009 Total Diet Survey focussed on the most commonly purchased brands of processed foods, obtained in Christchurch. (1)
Residues of ten pesticides were found in four samples of muesli (2). Of these, six are on the Pesticide Action Network (PAN) International List of Highly Hazardous Pesticides for a progressive global phase-out, because of the hazard they pose to human health – mainly cancer and/or endocrine disruption.
Bran cereal was not far behind the muesli, with a total of eight pesticides.
“Both cancer and endocrine disruption can result from low levels of exposure to pesticides, so when your morning muesli contains a mixture of six pesticides each of which has these effects, then the effect is magnified, and your breakfast may be posing an unhealthy risk to you” said Dr Meriel Watts of Pesticide Action Network Aotearoa New Zealand (PANANZ).
“Yet once again, the Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) is downplaying the findings. Still slavishly adhering to an outdated process of simply checking that each residue is below the legal level, they refuse to look at the reality of the situation that consumers face: daily exposure to low dose mixtures of chemicals, each of which by itself is known to cause cancer and/or endocrine or hormonal disruption, but which when added together may dramatically increase the risk,” said Dr Watts.
“The Authority needs to take on board a recent massive EU report which concluded regulatory authorities needed to consider mixtures. (3)
Overall, 25 pesticides were found in 33 food types; 19 of these pesticides are on PAN International’s List of highly Hazardous pesticides.
“Of particular concern are piperonyl butoxide (a synergist used to increase the effect of pyrethroid & carbamate insecticides), found in 15 foods, and the dithiocarbamate fungicides, found in 13 out of 20 foods,” commented Alison White of the Safe Food Campaign.
“Both may cause cancer and endocrine disruption. No safe level for carcinogens and endocrine disruptors has been established. Mancozeb, a common dithiocarbamate fungicide, has a breakdown product which may cause birth defects and genetic damage as well. We don’t need pesticides like this in our food and they pose an unacceptable risk to the baby in the womb.”
“Certified organic muesli doesn’t have pesticide residues such as NZFSA have found. Organic muesli contains ingredients that have been certified as being produced without the use of dangerous pesticides,” said Soil & Health Association spokesperson Steffan Browning.
“NZFSA needs to come clean about the difference between organic and other processed foods. While it is comforting to see reduced residues than in the past in raisins/sultanas samples, there were still too many and the brand that did not show any residues was probably organic. However NZFSA do not disclose that distinction or that of the brand of the worst offenders such as the bran flake cereal brand containing 8 different pesticide residues.”
“Consumers deserve to know who the bad offenders are and which products are the best. For example one wine brand of four, including both white and red wines stood out as having no pesticide residues. That producer, as with the raisin/sultana sample, deserves consumer recognition. From earlier surveys, we know that consumers are best to buy organic.”
References and analysis tables further below.
NOTES
(1) Results can be found on the NZFSA website at http://www.nzfsa.govt.nz/science/research-projects/total-diet-survey/q4-2009-nztds-analytical-report-final-april-10.pdf
(2) Chlorpyrifos, cyprodinil, dichlorvos, fenitrothion, isoprocarb, phenthoate, piperonyl butoxide, pirimiphos-methyl, procymidone, pyrimethanil.
(3) * Kortenkamp & Backhaus. 2009. State of the Art Report on Mixture Toxicity. Final Report .Executive Summary. 22 December 2009.
https://www.pan-europe.info/old/Campaigns/pesticides/documents/cum_syn_effects/Kortenkamp%20state%20of%20the%20art%20mixture%20toxicity.pdf

Scientific research has repeatedly demonstrated that the effects of mixtures are considerably more pronounced than the effect of each of its individual components and that environmental pollution is from chemical mixtures and not from individual substances. This clearly underlines the need for dedicated regulatory considerations of the problem of chemical mixtures.

NGO’s call for Diet drink’s aspartame to be dumped in favour of natural sweeteners

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Safe food campaigning NGO’s are once again calling for drinks and foods containing artificial sweeteners to be taken out of supermarket trolleys and 2010 school tuck-shops.
The Soil & Health Association of New Zealand and Safe Food Campaign point out that the sweetener aspartame in Diet drinks, and most sugar-free gums, is widely accepted to be dangerous and safe naturally derived alternatives are available.
Following a campaign throughout 2007-8 by Safe Food Campaign, Soil &Health Association of NZ, and anti-aspartame campaigner Abby Cormack, there was a world first 5% drop in Diet drink sales and a 50% drop inchewing gum sales containing aspartame.
Abby Cormack had suffered serious health problems following a high consumption of Extra gum and use of some Diet drinks.
However the NGO’s are concerned that public relations work by Coca Colamay have lifted sales of Diet drinks containing the neurotoxic artificial sweetener aspartame again. Internationally the big two beverage manufacturers, Coca Cola and Pepsi are beginning to use new naturally derived stevia sweeteners in response to consumer demands.
“While in our earlier campaign we were successful lifting public awareness about the dangers of aspartame it is important that those gains for peoples health are continued,” said Abby Cormack.
“It is disturbing that the government has reversed the healthy foods in schools program and allowed junk foods again. Neither the Diet labelled aspartame containing drinks or the heavily sugar laden drinks belong in school tuck shops.”
“I don’t wish my past health problems on anyone, least of all New Zealand children.”
“With the natural sweetener stevia already approved by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), there is no need to be selling aspartame containing foods and beverages in New Zealand,” said Soil & Health spokesperson Steffan Browning.
“Soil & Health and Safe Food Campaign want junk drinks, especially those containing aspartame, out of schools for 2010. There is no need to compound the health issues such as obesity in New Zealand children by using neurotoxic and carcinogenic containing products in tuck-shops.” Soil & Health promotes the use of natural sweeteners that fit its motto of ‘Healthy Soil, Healthy Food, Healthy People,’ and aspires to an Organic 2020.
Notes: Aspartame (951, Equal, Nutrasweet) is an artificial sweetener found in many products including diet drinks, sugar free products, dietary supplements, sports drinks and medications.
Aspartame has been linked to many health symptoms, including those expressed as ADHD, anxiety, depression, irritability, confusion, memoryloss, insomnia, dizziness, migraines, cramps, abdominal pain, numbness or tingling of extremities, rashes, chronic fatigue, and sight and personality changes.
http://www.safefood.org.nz/
http://www.organicnz.org/campaigns/aspartame/
http://www.organicnz.org/organic-nz-magazine/1105/sweet-poison/
http://www.mpwhi.com/main.htm