Daily Mail | By Sean Poulter | July 17 2002
EATING GM food can change the genetic make-up of your digestive system and
could put you at risk of infections that are resistant to antibiotics,
experts said today.
A British study has revealed that volunteers who ate one meal containing
genetically modified soya had traces of the modified DNA in bacteria in
their small intestines.
Scientists now fear that GM foods, which are often modified to be resistant
to antibiotics, will leave Britons vulnerable to untreatable diseases. The
research contradicts repeated claims by the GM industry that gene transfer
from foods to humans is extremely unlikely. It also raises the possibility
that millions of people may already have GM bacteria from food they have eaten.
The study, carried out at the University of Newcastle, consisted of feeding
seven volunteers GM soya. Researchers found that three of them had evidence
of DNA gene transfer in the bacteria that occurs naturally in their
digestive systems. This is the first time this transfer has been identified
in humans.
THE STUDY RAISES SERIOUS CONCERNS
Research leader Professor Harry Gilbert played down the dangers, but
confirmed that 'surprising' levels of GM DNA transfer were found. He said:
"There is some evidence of gene transfer, but it is at an extremely low
rate and therefore it probably does not represent a significant risk to
human health'. The research report suggested that this transfer may have
'reflected previous exposure of the subjects to genetically modified
plants'. But yesterday experts claimed the possibility of eating GM crops
containing antibiotic resistance genes raised 'serious concerns'.
Geneticist Dr Michael Antoniou, of Guy's Hospital, London, said the results
indicated the need for an extensive GM foods testing programme. He added:
"The most significant finding is that there is GM soya DNA in the bacteria
at readily detectable levels in the small intestines. It was always said by
the industry that this could not happen or was extremely unlikely. There is
a whole slew of different antibiotic resistant genes that are being used in
GM crops in their production in the laboratory. They stay in the final
crop. These genes are often used as a marker to signal that the desired GM
change, such as resistance to a particular weed killer, has taken place."
Dr Antoniou added: 'Bacteria in the gut are going to take up genes that
will make them resistant to potentially therapeutic antibiotics. The
possibility is that someone who picked up the antibiotic resistance through
food and then fell ill, that a medical antibiotic might not be effective."
However, the Food Standards Agency tried to reassure consumers that GM
foods are safe. A spokesman said the findings had been assessed by several
Government experts who had ruled that humans were not at risk. In a
statement on its website, the agency said the study had concluded it is
'extremely unlikely' that GM genes can end up in the gut of people who eat
them.
Friends of the Earth GM expert Adrian Bebb said this response contradicted
the opinions of many international scientists. He added: "The FSA's
attitude to the release of this information has been extraordinary. It can
only fuel concerns that the Government and its agencies only want the
public to hear positive news about GM. This is the first time a change to
bacteria in the gut has been identified in humans. It is enormously
significant. This is something the GM industry said could not happen. Yet
in the first experiment looking at just seven people, there it is. The
suggestion that the GM DNA could already have been in the bodies of the
participants raises important questions. Either it got into the gut many
years ago and has been passed down or people are eating GM soya in their
diet on a daily basis. Whatever the reason, it would seem millions of
people could have GM DNA from this soya in their bodies."
