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The consumer watchdog group, US
Public Interest Research Group, on Thursday accused the
US Department of Agriculture (USDA) of rubber-stamping approval
of field tests of genetically engineered crops some believe
could harm people and the environment.
"Our
environment is serving as the laboratory for widespread experimentation
of genetically engineered organisms with profound risks that,
once released, can never be recalled," the
group states.
The USDA authorized nearly 29,000
field tests of genetically engineered organisms
through 2000. The agency has only rejected 4% of the applications
to conduct field tests. So far, its report indicates, Hawaii
has hosted the most field tests with 3,275, and Illinois ranks
second with 2,832.
These experiments
are being done in an open environment with little oversight
or public notification.
Introducing nonnative organisms into the
environment is estimated to cost the United States $123 billion
annually in ecosystem damage.
Contrary to popular belief, the technology
is not very precise. Scientists cannot control the location
where the gene is inserted into the hosts' genetic code, nor
guarantee stable expression of the gene in the new genetically
engineered organism.
Concerns about genetically modified food
reached a frenzy in the United States last year when StarLink,
a genetically modified corn that has been approved for animal
feed but not for human consumption, was discovered in a number
of food products.
The report claims corporations and universities
are becoming increasingly secretive about their genetic testing.
From 1989 to 1999, the percentage of crops containing genes
declared "confidential" increased nearly every year.
Last year, 65% of the genetically engineered crops were declared
confidential business information.
To download the complete report (pdf file)
CLICK
HERE. To take action on this subject CLICK
HERE.
US
Public Interest Research Group "Raising Risk"
Report June 14, 2001
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