Human genes spliced into genetically engineered rice - 05/15/2006
A small 16-employee company named "Ventria" is splicing human genes into crops to produce proteins that can be turned into medicines in an open-air drug factory called "biopharming".
Ventria's rice produces two human proteins found in mother's milk, saliva and tears, which help people hydrate and lessen the severity and duration of diarrhea attacks, a top killer of children in developing countries.
Farmers, environmentalists and others fear that such medicinal crops will mix with conventional crops, making them unsafe to eat.
The company says the chance of its genetically engineered rice ending up in the food supply is remote because the company grinds the rice and extracts the protein before shipping. What's
more, rice is "self pollinating," and it's virtually impossible for genetically engineered rice to accidentally cross breed with conventional crops.
Rice Interests in California drove Ventria's experimental work out of state in 2004. They landed near Greenville, N.C. and received U.S. Department of Agriculture clearance to expand its operation there from 70 acres to 335 acres, and is hoping to get
regulatory clearance to market its diarrhea-fighting protein powder.
Vetria hopes to add its protein powder to existing infant products. There is no requirement to label any food products in the United States as containing genetically engineered ingredients.
Elias, Paul. "Tiny company's genetically engineered rice has just about everyone upset." Lewiston Tribune 15 May 2006: 9A.
Bacteria-killing viruses sprayed on meat and poultry approved by FDA - 08/19/2006
The FDA has approved the spraying of a mix of bacteria-killing viruses on cold cuts, hot dogs and sausages to combat common microbes that kill hundreds of people a year. The combination of six viruses is designed to be sprayed on ready-to-eat meat and poultry products, including sliced ham and turkey, said John Vazzana, president and chief executive officer of manufacturer Intralytix Inc.
The FDA said the special viruses called bacteriophages are meant to kill strains of the Listeria monocytogenes bacterium, and declared the sprayings safe to use as a food additive. The bacterium the viruses target can cause a serious infection called listeriosis, primarily in pregnant women, newborns and adults with weakened immune systems. Luncheon meats are particularly vulnerable to Listeria since once purchased, they typically aren't cooked or reheated, which normally kills harmful bacteria like Listeria.
Consumers will not be made aware of the sprayed meat and poultry products. The Department of Agriculture will regulate the actual use of the product.
Initially, the FDA had concerns that the virus preparation potentially could contain toxic residues associated with the bacteria, however, testing did not reveal the presence of such
residues, which in small quantities likely wouldn't cause health problems anyway, the FDA said.
Bridges, Andrew. "FDA approves use of bacteria-killing viruses to treat meat, poultry." Lewiston Tribune 19 Aug 2006: 5A.
Clones ready to enter the food supply - 12/23/2006
Federal scientists have concluded that meat and milk from cloned animals and their offspring is safe to eat, and should be allowed to enter the food supply without any special labeling.
The Food and Drug Administration will endorse the use of cloning technology for cattle, goats and pigs when it publishes a key safety assessment intended to clear the way for formal approval of the products.
"All of the studies indicate that the composition of meat and milk from clones is within the compositional ranges of meat and milk consumed in the U.S.," the FDA scientists concluded in a report published in the Jan. 1 issue of the journal Theriogenology, which focuses on animal reproduction.
Their conclusions brought sharp reaction from food safety advocates.
The FDA "has been trying to foist this bad science on us for several years," said Andrew Kimbrell,
executive director of the nonprofit Center for Food Safety in Washington. "When there is so much concern among so many Americans, this is really a rush to judgment."
A voluntary moratorium initiated about five years ago by the FDA has largely kept the already cloned animals for milk and meat production out of the grocery stores and
restaurants.
However, ranchers say there is no doubt that some of the animals taken to slaughterhouses in the past couple of years have been fathered by clones.
"There's been lots and lots of them that went into the food chain," said Larry Coleman, who raises limousin cattle in Charlo, Mont., and has made five clone of his prize bull, named First Down. He estimated
that at least 10 of their offspring have wound up on dinner tables.
Kaplan, Karenn and Jia-Rui Chong. "Clones' meat, milk deemed safe." The Spokesman-Review 23 Dec 2006: A4.
Modified rice approved for Kansas - 03/03/2007
The Department of Agriculture has granted preliminary approval for Ventria Bioscience, to grow modified rice in Kansas. The Sacramento, Calif.-based company wants to grow rice modified to produce human proteins on more than 3,000 acres of farmland near Junction City, Kan.
Their plans are to produce pharmaceutical rice for use in medicines to fight diarrhea, dehydration and other illnesses that kill millions of infants and toddlers each year.
While some food groups warn the proteins could find their way into the food chain, causing medical reactions or allergies, the USDA released a draft environmental assessment that concluded planting the rice poses virtually no risk.
No commercial rice is grown in Kansas, and Ventria will use dedicated equipment, storage and processing facilities to prevent seeds from mixing with other crops. The rice will be milled on site. Weather events, like tornadoes, that could carry seeds into other fields where contamination could occur, as well as the possibility of human error in transporting and handling the rice are real possibilities and need to be considered according to the concerned critics.
Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and other officials have enthusiastically welcomed Ventria to the state. The company plans to spend $6 million to renovate an abandoned grocery distribution center in Junction City, and could eventually contract with farmers to grow rice on 30,000 acres.
Hananel, Sam. "USDA approves plan to grow genetically modified rice in Kansas." Lewiston Tribune 3 Mar 2007: 5A
Cloned meat and milk coming soon to food supply - 5 Jan 2008
Scientists agree that some clones have peculiarities in their genes that create unknown relevancy with regards to food consuption. However, because a clones sexually produced offspring appear to be healthy and normal, their meat and milk will soon be appearing on supermarket shelves as early as next week. The FDA is ready to lift its "voluntary moratorium" on the marketing of milk and meat from clones and their offspring. They are relying on multiple studies that show the chimical composition of these products is "virtually identical to that of milk and meat from conventionally bred animals."
The FDA refuses to reveal comment content in their 30,500 responses in its draft risk assessment, and whether these many comments were in favor or opposition. Concerned scientists worry that the risk assessment is "long on assumptions and short on data, and especially short on the data that are directly relevant to food consumption safety. " according to Margaret Mellon of the Union of Concerned Scientists. She is especially concerned that even though most clones dies before birth or soon after, that those who survied are declared normal by the FDA. She hopes for regulation that at least requires the FDA to track the food from clones and watch for human health impacts.
Weiss, Rick. "Cloned meat, milk closer to market." Spokesman-Review [Spokane] 5 Jan 2008: A3.
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