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GM animal feed honesty
Rural Weekly insert
22/02/05
It is ironic that anti-GM campaigner Bob Phelps thinks the recent media attention poultry producers are receiving in their attempts to source non-genetically modified (GM) feed sources is a victory for “honesty, food safety and quality” (Ban on GE chicken feed, 18 February).
Honesty does not involve misleading and frightening Australian consumers about the safety and quality of GM feed. There is no scientific evidence to suggest GM animal feed poses any risk to human health and safety. Numerous scientific studies have been conducted around the world to evaluate the safety of GM animal feeds both on the animals themselves and their by-products. These studies overwhelmingly conclude that there is no effect from feeding approved GM crops to livestock and poultry on the nutritional value or safety of meat, milk and eggs. GM animal feed, like all feed, is broken down during digestion, so by-products from animals fed GM crops are no different to those from animals fed non-GM feed and as a result of this scientific reasoning, Australia’s labelling laws do not require the products derived from animals fed GM feed to be labelled as GM.
Honesty is not withholding this safety information from consumers and performing stunts dressed in chicken costumes at supermarkets, ports and silos.
Honesty is presenting the facts. Has Mr Phelps mentioned Australia’s GM cotton success story? Genetically modified cotton (the meal of which is used is some feed rations) has allowed pesticide reductions of more than 50 per cent across the areas it is grown. This is a very positive and factual truth which consumers might also be interested in.
Paula Fitzgerald
Executive Director
Agrifood Awareness Australia Limited
Canberra
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