Worldwide - Harbourside Organic Farmers Market

Smart chickens weren't be duped by foul play
By Eleanor Momberg

Chickens refusing to eat the maize they had been fed has led to the discovery that their feed had been genetically modified to include a well-known weed and insect killer.

Strilli Oppenheimer was recently approached by Dawid Klopper, the head gardener at the family estate, Brenthurst, informing her that her indigenous African chickens were refusing to eat the mealies in the chicken feed bought from a large supplier. Concerned that the birds may be ingesting genetically modified maize, she instructed Klopper to have the maize tested.

The chickens' diet was immediately changed to include organic vegetables, Oppenheimer stopped consuming the home-grown eggs and the maize was sent to the GMO testing facility at the University of the Free State for analysis.

The results confirmed Oppenheimer's initial suspicion - the maize had been genetically engineered to produce proteins that are toxic to certain insects and weeds.

"It contained BT1 which makes the maize insect resistant, as well as Roundup which makes it weed resistant. This is the first report we have had of chickens not eating GM feed," said a GM expert.

While small quantities of BT1 and Roundup weed killer were found in the seeds, the concern remained with the cumulative effect of GM feed, not only on the chickens, but also on the eggs they produced for the family.

"This is of serious concern. Do you know that 96 percent of soya-based foods are genetically modified and that maize in South Africa is contaminated," asked Oppenheimer, pointing out that research by well-known scientist Dr Arpad Pusztai had shown that rats fed on GM potatoes suffered from a weakened immune system and stunted growth of their internal organs, including the liver, kidneys and brain.

Pusztai was fired by the Rowett Research Institute in the UK in 1998 after his research into the human nutritional consequences of GM. His findings had far-reaching implications for the biotech industry, which had contended that GM crops and products would not adversely affect human health.

International research has shown a direct link between certain types of genetic engineering and cancer.

Gundula Azeez and Coilin Nunan of The Soil Association, a UK environmental charity, stated in their paper, "GM Crops - the health effects", that international research had shown that milk, eggs and meat from GM-fed animals contained GM crop DNA, concluding that it was likely that people were frequently being exposed to GM DNA.

They concluded that because of the lapses in extensive safety assessments, there were "very good scientific reasons for being concerned about the safety of GM crops".

Rose Williams, acting director of Biowatch, said globally there was great concern that GM products had not been adequately tested in terms of their effect on people, animals and the environment.

"There has been no testing on humans, very limited testing on animals and very little research on environmental impacts. This is the case globally, but in South Africa even less work has been done, even though the commercial release of GM maize, GM soya and GM cotton has been approved."

Williams said concerns by NGOs such as Biowatch, the African Centre for Biosafety and SAFeAGE about the lack of control over GM crops and contamination of non-GM crops had largely been ignored.

"Government has not done enough to protect the public from the potential threats of GM foods. There is also the matter of liability - who will take responsibility for people's losses and any health problems relating to consumption of GM foods, whether they are for people or for animals."

Williams said the contamination of non-GM crops was a real problem, with the biotech industry leading people to believe that co-existence of GM and non-GM crops was possible. "But it is not," she said.

While the recently implemented Consumer Protection Act called for the labelling of GM foods, the regulations linked to the measure had yet to be finalised.

About her chickens' refusal to eat their maize, Oppenheimer said: "They're smart."

French study says organic food is healthier

By Jess Halliday, 11-Sep-2009

A new review from France has concluded that there are nutritional benefits to organic produce, on the basis of data compiled for the French food agency AFSSA. The conclusion opposes that of a UK study published last month.

Whether or not organic food brings nutritional benefits over conventional food has been a matter of considerable inquiry and debate. The issue came to a head last month when a study commissioned by the UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) concluded that there is no evidence of nutritional superiority.

Now, however, a review published in the journal Agronomy for Sustainable Development has said drawn wildly different conclusions.

Author Denis Lairon of the University of Aix-Marseille coordinated an “up-to-date exhaustive and critical evaluation of the nutritional and sanitary quality of organic food” for AFSSA, which was originally published in 2003. The new review is based on this, as well as the findings of new studies published in the intervening years.

Lairon concluded that organic plant products contain more dry matter and minerals – such as iron and magnesium – and more antioxidant polyphenols like phenols and salicylic acid. Data on carbohydrate, protein and vitamin levels are insufficiently documented, he said.

Organic animal products were seen to have more polyunsaturated fats.

Is nutrition important?

In the wake of the FSA report publication, organic groups and the media debated the reasons for consumers’ keenness to buy organic produce. Many concluded that nutritional benefit is not necessarily at the forefront of their minds, but they are more driven by food safety and environmental aspects such as pesticide use.

Unlike the authors of the FSA study, Lairon did look at food safety. He concluded that between 94 and 100 per cent of organic food does not contain any pesticide residues, and organic vegetables have about 50 per cent less nitrates.

Organic cereals, however, were seen to have similar levels of mycotoxins overall compared with conventional cereals.

Emphasis on quality

The FSA study looked at evidence from studies published in the English language, and notably drew attention to shortfalls in the methodology of many which means their findings could not be included.

The original AFSSA report, too, placed a high onus on quality or study. Selected papers had to refer to well-defined and certified organic agricultural practices, and have information on design and follow-up, valid measured parametres and appropriate sampling and statistical analysis.

Source:

Agronomy for Sustainable Development (2009)

DOI: 10.1051/agro/2009019

“Nutritional quality an safety of organic food. A review”

Author: Lairon, D.

Source: www.foodnavigator.com

September 17, 2009, 6:26 pm

At a New Farmer’s Market, First Lady Picks Up Eggs, Chocolate Milk and Vegetables

By Rachel L. Swarns

Win McNamee/Getty Images After giving her remarks at the farmer’s market, First Lady Michelle Obama grabbed a straw basket and did some shopping.

Undeterred by a steady drizzle and cheered on by hundreds of (hungry?) onlookers, First Lady Michelle Obama celebrated the opening of a new farmers market near the White House on Thursday.

It was part of her ongoing effort to encourage Americans to eat healthier, fresher foods. So she urged the public to peruse the fresh fruit, vegetables, cheeses, locally-raised meats and baked goods being sold by local farmers on Vermont Avenue Northwest between H and I Streets.

“In this society today, sometimes it’s hard to make regular meals, healthy meals a part of everyone’s existence,’’ Mrs. Obama said. “This is one of the reasons why I’m so supportive of farmers’ markets.

“For those of us who are battling the time crunch and those for us whom access to fresh food is an issue in our neighborhoods, farmers’ markets are a really important, valuable resource that we have to support,’’ she said.

Mrs. Obama said that her experiences raising two daughters had inspired her to focus on the issue.

“Farmers’ markets are a really important, valuable resource that we have to support,’’ Mrs. Obama said.

“I’ve learned that when my family eats fresh food, healthy food, that it really affects how we feel, how we get through the day, and that’s whether we’re trying to get through math homework or whether there’s a Cabinet meeting or whether we’re just walking the dog,’’ Mrs. Obama said.

The market will be open on Thursdays from Sept. 17 through Oct. 29. Farmer’s market executives said that White House garden goodies will not be on sale.

But not to worry — Mrs. Obama made a point of giving the new venture her personal stamp of approval.

After giving her remarks, the first lady grabbed a straw basket and did some shopping, picking up some black kale, eggs, cherry tomatoes, mixed hot pepper, pears, fingerling potatoes, cheese and chocolate milk to bring back to the White House.

Maybe some kale on your dinner plate tonight, Mr. President?

Source: The New York Times - http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/17/first-lady-picks-up-eggs-chocolate-milk-and-vegetables/