Genetic engineering makes it possible for scientists to cross apples with chickens, tomatoes with fish, and even humans with corn, manipulating nature in ways previously inconceivable, according to a new report released today by the Genetically Engineered Food Alert coalition.

Weird Science: The Brave New World of Genetic Engineering, a report by U.S. PIRG and the Pesticide Action Network, presents examples of combinations that highlight the differences between genetic engineering and traditional plant breeding. It also examines the unpredictability of genetic engineering, and details examples of some unexpected results that have already occurred in field tests.

"Because of their built-in uncertainties, gene transfers between unrelated species are inherently unpredictable and potentially dangerous," said Dr. Barry Commoner, noted author and Director of the Center for the Biology of Natural Systems at Queens College. "The biotechnology industry is flying blind."

Field tests have already occurred that include gene combinations such as the following:

• Apples and chickens
• To make apples resistant to fire blight, Cornell University has developed a type of genetically engineered apple that contains a gene from a chicken. They tested the crop in both 1994 and 1991 in the state of New York.
• Tomato and flounder
• In perhaps one of the most famous cases of unusual genetic combinations, DNA Plant Technology field tested a tomato with a gene from the flounder in an attempt to develop a tomato that was tolerant to cold temperatures. The field test took place in California in 1991.

Another combination worth noting is Bt corn, which makes up nearly one-third of corn grown in the U.S. Bt corn is corn engineered to contain its own bacterial pesticide. Bt corn has received much attention in recent months, when a variety of the engineered corn, StarLink, was found in numerous brands of taco shells. StarLink has not been approved for human consumption because of concerns that the Cry9C protein produced by the corn might be a human allergen. When testing commissioned by Genetically Engineered Food Alert found the illegal corn in foods on supermarket shelves, Kraft Foods, Mission Foods, Safeway, Shaw’s, Food Lion, and Kash ‘n Karry recalled their taco shells and Aventis, the biotechnology company that engineered the seed, withdrew registration for the seed.

While proponents of genetic engineering claim that they can insert foreign DNA into new species with great accuracy, and claim that the technology is merely an extension of traditional plant breeding, the report details several examples of why these claims are false. In May 2000, for example, Monsanto disclosed for the first time that its genetically engineered soybeans -- their most widely used product which has been on the market for four years -- contained additional and unexpected gene fragments.

"Dr. Frankenstein comes to mind this Halloween with experiments that put mice genes in potatoes and cow genes in soybeans, and when corn genetically engineered for animal feed is found in taco shells," said Richard Caplan, Environmental Advocate with the U.S. Public Interest Research Group and co-author of the report. "Unless the FDA adopts mandatory testing and labeling of genetically engineered food, we are test subjects in a vast food experiment."

Despite many instances of unexpected results of genetically engineered crops, the Food and Drug Administration does not require testing or labeling for genetically engineered foods. Consistently 80-90% of the public indicates a desire for mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods. In March, more than 50 consumer, food safety, and environmental groups filed a petition with FDA for mandatory labeling, safety testing, and full environmental review. The docket that FDA opened with that petition has received tens of thousands of public comments in support of mandatory testing and labeling.

"Concerned consumers should visit www.StopFrankenfood.org to send a message to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to let them know that we don’t want to be guinea pigs," said Ellen Hickey, Research Director with the Pesticide Action Network and co-author of the report. "These products are being forced on us with inadequate testing and since there’s no labeling, we’re given no choice."

GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOOD ALERT CAMPAIGN
Genetically Engineered Food Alert supports the removal of genetically engineered ingredients from grocery store shelves unless they are adequately safety tested and labeled. Founding members include: Center for Food Safety, Friends of the Earth, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, National Environmental Trust, Organic Consumers Association, Pesticide Action Network North America, and the State Public Interest Research Groups. www.gefoodalert.org

U.S. Public Interest Research Group:
U.S. PIRG is the national lobbying office for the State Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs). The State PIRGs are non-profit, non-partisan environmental and consumer watchdog organizations. www.pirg.org

Pesticide Action Network North America:
PANNA advocates adoption of ecologically sound practices in place of hazardous pesticides and genetically engineered crops. PANNA has over 100 affiliated groups in Canada, Mexico and the U.S., providing technical support and participating in joint projects with partner NGOs in Africa, Asia, and the Americas. www.panna.org

The report, Weird Science: The Brave New World of Genetic Engineering, is available at www.stopfrankenfood.org.