-Caveat Lector- Clinton shills for Monsanto. Pressures Blair to OK genetically modified foods. "Question of the day" Why can't we alter the genes of politicians, implant them with rat genes for an improved politician? flw UNDERNEWS By Sam Smith February 15, 1999 The Progressive Review ALTERED FOOD DAMAGED LAB RATS IN JUST TEN DAYS Twenty scientists from around the world have come to the defense of a British researcher forced out of his government-funded post for reporting that lab rats suffered a reduction in brain size, liver damage, and a weakening of their immune system after being fed genetically modified potatoes for only 10 days. The development of the animals' kidney, thymus, spleen and gut was also affected. One of the scientists who examined Dr. Arpad Pusztai's work told the BBC, "We find that his data are sound. We think it would pass peer review and be published." The London Telegraph reports that "recent research on the same rats by Dr Stanley Ewen, a senior pathologist at Aberdeen University medical school, is also understood to validate Dr. Pusztai's preliminary findings and suggest new possible health risks." And the BBC quoted another scientist as saying, "We simply do not have sufficient understanding of the principles of physiological regulation to enable us to categorize those genetic modifications that will pose a risk and those that do not." Dr Vyvyan Howard, a fetal and infant toxico-pathologist from the University of Liverpool, said genetically modified foods should be treated and tested like pharmaceutical drugs: "We are going to have to treat these plants like pharmaceutical agents. We consume food in a lifetime in tons, whereas with a drug you would expect to take it for a couple of days in milligrams." Prime Minister Tony Blair has rejected altered food protests from consumers, scientists and environmental groups. The London Independent reports that "Bill Clinton has personally intervened with Tony Blair to stop Britain from halting the controversial production of genetically engineered foods. The US President telephoned the Prime Minister during the summer to try to persuade him that genetically modified crops - worth millions of pounds to the US economy - would not be bad for Britain. "France and Austria have temporarily banned the growth of GM food until more is known about its effects on the environment. Clinton's intervention has outraged MPs and environmentalists. They accuse the US President of intruding in a sensitive domestic matter. "The Clinton administration has close links with [Monsanto], the powerful biotechnology conglomerate which develops the seeds for GM crops. Monsanto, which made a profit of almost $300m in 1997, is one of five companies spearheading Clinton's welfare to work program, and the President singled out the biotech company for praise during his State of the Nation address last year." Meanwhile, New Scientist is reporting that an artificial gut designed by Dutch researchers has cast doubts on the safety of genetically modified food. The computer-controlled model of the stomach and intestines, designed to mimic human food digestion, showed that antibiotic- resistance genes introduced into food could jump to bacteria in the gut: "The results show that DNA lingers in the intestine, and confirms that genetically modified bacteria can transfer their antibiotic-resistance genes to bacteria in the gut." And in New Zealand, Agresearch, the government's biggest research instituteis planning to put human genes into cows so that their milk is more like human breast milk. Agency France Press reports that Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons immediately called for a probe of the public's wishes in such transgenic research: "There is no plan for any official debate about the ethics of this even though putting human DNA into cows is a highly contentious act." CAMPAIGN FOR FOOD SAFETY (218) 226-4164, Fax: (218) 226-4157 http://www.purefood.org GLOBAL STOP-GE-FOOD NETWORK [EMAIL PROTECTED] AGRIBUSINESS EXAMINER [EMAIL PROTECTED] DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. 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