"Key Points in the Discussion of Dr. Arpad Pusztai's Research"
Luke Anderson
United Kingdom
February 14, 1999
- Jack Cunningham has repeatedly said that "It is simply not sensible to
conclude that if a laboratory experiment with a known toxin added caused
damage to rats, that all other GM potatoes are therefore unsafe." He has
clearly not looked at the science, nor it seems have many of the other
so-called experts who have repeated the same argument. The potatoes which
had the snowdrop lectin (GNA) added to them did not affect the rats in the
same way as the potatoes genetically engineered with the snowdrop lectin
even though the lectin was present in equal concentrations in both. This
points to the process of genetic engineering itself.
- The snowdrop lectin was used precisely because it was not thought to be
toxic to mammalian systems. Dr. Pusztai, the world authority on lectins,
had been working with the snowdrop lectin for seven years and had high
hopes for its potential use in food crops. Indeed, the snowdrop lectin
has been genetically engineered into a number of crops with a view to
commercialisation (e.g. rice and oilseed rape). Cabbages genetically
engineered with this lectin are being grown in trials this year in
Holland.
- Unlike the snowdrop lectin, ConA (the lectin taken from the Jackbean)
is known to be toxic to mammalian systems. For this reason it was never
seriously considered by Dr. Pusztai for use in food crops. This was a
source of much confusion last August when the Rowett Institute told the
press that these experiments had involved potatoes genetically engineered
with the jackbean lectin. Dr. Pusztai never suggested that he was using
potatoes genetically engineered with this lectin. Potatoes which had the
jackbean lectin added were used in the experiments to test the
responsiveness of the immune system precisely because, being toxic, they
stimulate it. Nor did Dr. Pusztai accept that he was muddled or confused
about the experiments. This is backed by the twenty one distinguished
scientists from twelve countries who looked in detail at the data. The
reason that Dr. Pusztai was not able to clear up this confusion at the
time was that he was sacked and threatened with legal action if he spoke
out.
- Lectins are used in genetically engineered food that we are eating in
the UK right now. Many crops, such as maize for example, have been
genetically engineered with the Bt toxin, now understood to be a form of
lectin. Genetically engineered Bt crops were grown last year on 7.7
million hectares world-wide (mostly in the US). We are eating this Bt
maize in the UK, and it has not been tested to see if it has similar
effects. In fact, talk as it might about the long regulatory process that
GM products need to go through before they are approved, the government
does not at present require that GM foods undergo thorough feed trials.
- This is based on a concept called 'substantial equivalence', which
effectively means that if a GM product is seen to be grossly similar to a
non-GM product, it does not need to be thoroughly tested (on the
assumption that it we be no more dangerous than its non GM equivalent).
The GM potatoes that were being tested by Pusztai were declared by the
Rowett Institute to be substantially equivalent therefore by the
government's own criteria they would not have been subject to the
long-term trials carried out by Pusztai and his team. The effect on the
mammalian system would not therefore have been discovered within the
present regulatory framework.
- Cunningham has also said that "The scientists who spoke out have not
as yet provided any evidence to our advisory groups, to our scientists.
They have been asked for it now for some considerable time. As soon as
they do make their findings available to us of course we shall examine
them quickly and comprehensively." This is not true. The scientists have
not been asked by the government to provide information. This information
is publicly available now and the Scottish Office were given the report in
October. The government has had access to this information for months.
- Dr. Pusztai is an internationally renowned expert in the field of
lectin research. He has published 280 scientific papers and written 3
books. If he, in an institute funded by taxpayers' money, can have his
reputation destroyed, his research suppressed, and be gagged under the
BBSRC code which applies to all publicly funded research scientists in the
country, what message does this give to other scientists who may have
controversial findings?
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