Genetically modified foods; are our regulators letting us down ?

The articles below are from the West Australian Newspaper on Tuesday the 21st October. It seems that Food Standards Australia and New Zealand is again letting the consumer down and failing to protect our health. The best we can do, in my opinion is to be informed and make our own health choices. Read, become informed and if you can, attend the Rally (see below for details).

If you want the basics on genetic modification, to give you the background for these articles, read this past CleanLife e-newsletter by Janet Grogan, click here

Watchdog ‘panders to GM food giants’
WELLINGTON

The food authority responsible for approving genetically modified products has been accused of pandering to agrochemical giants at the expense of consumer health in a report set to be released today.
Food Standards Australia New Zealand is gambling with the health of consumers, the director of the University of Canterbury’s Centre for Integrated Research in Biosafety, Professor Jack Heinemann, has warned.
He pointed out that it was one of only a few regulators to have approved every application for genetically engineered food products.
“Many other regulators have at least stood up once where FSANZ appears to have cowered under industry or political pressure,” he said, describing the authority as the victim of “flawed legislation that mixes the goals of trade and public health”.
Over the past 12 years, the authority has approved more than 50 varieties of genetically engineered crops, from corn and soy to potato and sugar beet, the report compiled by Greenpeace found. Among the products approved, despite what Greenpeace described as a weight of harmful evidence, were:

• A strain of corn (MON863) developed by Monsanto found to cause liver and kidney toxicity when fed to rats in a peer-reviewed French scientific study last year;

• A Syngenta-manufactured corn (GE alpha-amylase) specifically designed to be used in bioethanol production and not intended for human consumption, yet with the potential to enter the human food chain through unchecked US imports;

• Another Syngenta corn (GE Bt10) approved by the authority despite being banned by the European Union and Japan because no safety assessments have yet been conducted;

• A Monsanto canola, still the subject of debate in the EU and banned in Austria after Monsanto’s own testing found increases in liver sizes in rats of up to 16 per cent.
Professor Heinemann said many of the authority’s decisions on genetically engineered food were based on assumptions and “picking and choosing only the science (the authority) wants to believe”. He said while more stringent food labelling laws were being passed in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and South Africa, in Australia products produced by animals fed GM crops required no labels.



Critics say GM canola buffer zone is too small by JODIE THOMSON

Growers of genetically modified canola will need to set up buffer zones of just 5m to keep the GM crops away from regular varieties if WA follows national industry guidelines, sparking fears of contamination if the State adopts the controversial technology.
As the new State Government prepares for large scale trials of GM canola, possibly by next year, critics of the technology warned yesterday contamination of non-GM crops would be inevitable if industry was allowed to “self-regulate” segregation.
Network of Concerned Farmers spokeswoman Julie Newman said that as a result, farmers would not be able to promise consumers that their crops were entirely free of GM seed.
Expensive testing, which could cost up to $1000 per sample, could be used, but even that was not a guarantee the product was completely free from GM contamination.
“Almost overnight we could lose our ability to provide what the customers want, and that is choice in whether they consume GM foods or not,” she said. Mrs Newman said buffer zones used in NSW and Victoria, where commercial GM canola crops were grown, were only just bigger than the standard farm firebreak.
In a NCF report, due to be released at a rally in Perth next Thursday, she argues the small buffer zone could be breached easily by wind, floods, animals and machinery carrying the seeds. She said the Government needed to introduce strict liability legislation to ensure the company providing the GM seed was liable for containing its product to prevent potential economic loss for GM-free farmers.
“At the moment it is the GM-free farmer who must keep it out, rather than the GM industry keeping it in,” she said. “The only legal recourse is farmer suing farmer, which becomes a legal and moral nightmare for growers.” Campaigners will be rallying against the release of GM crops amid expectations the Barnett Government will take a more lenient stance than the previous Labor government.
Maggie Lilith, of the Conservation Council of WA, said the rally next week would include not just “greenies” but consumers and conventional farmers who were worried about crop segregation and labelling of GM foods. A spokesman from industry body AusBiotech said that buffer distances were based on research into gene flow under Australian conditions.
He said the industry had also examined the issue of strict liability, which was normally reserved for products that were considered hazardous. It had found that the current legal process was appropriate given Australia’s regulatory agencies did not consider GM canola hazardous.
Agriculture Minister Terry Redman, who will address the rally, said issues of liability and crop segregation would be examined.
Andy McMillan, of WAFarmers which backs commercial GM canola, said the NCF had chosen “not to have any faith in the regulatory system


I can't really say it better than David Suzuki has;

'Anyone that says GE is perfectly safe is unbelievably stupid or deliberately lying. The reality is we don’t know enough about what we are doing.'
Choosing certified organic foods, avoiding processed food (and choosing certified organic or GMO free foods when you do) and buying direct from the producers are just a few of the key things you can do to ensure your family isn't consuming genetically modified foods.

Eco savvy parenting is the new BLACK

The Basics of Green Parenting

If you travel in environmental circles you are likely to have heard that having children is considered a form of environmental ‘terrorism’. More mouths to feed, more bodies to house, clothe and transport creates increased pressure on our limited resources. It is interesting then, that for many individuals, the impetus for reducing individual and collective impact on the planet, is a positive result on a pregnancy test. Previously unconcerned, fuel guzzling, plastic bag touted individuals realise that their flesh and blood will not only inherit the earth, they will likely inherit our individual and collective chemical and environmental burden. What follows is usually a conversion to organic food, natural personal care products and with some luck energy efficient homes and water saving devices. When it is time for the baby to arrive the nursery is filled with organic baby clothes and second hand furniture. So it seems that in fact, the very act of creating children, which is adding to our overpopulated earth, may in some ways, provide for our salvation.

It would be unrealistic and unfair to expect all children to be the next David Suzuki, Tim Flannery or Al Gore. The way we choose to raise our children does however have both an immediate effect on the planet in terms of their individual ecological footprints and a long term effect in regard to how the next generation will live and consume as adults. Being a parent has for a long time been said to be the most difficult yet most important job one can undertake. In addition to the long list of roles a parent must fulfill, our environmental situation now demands that all parents now also take on the responsibility of eco-educator. The good news is, being an eco-savvy parent really isn’t any more difficult than being an eco-sloppy one.


There are many positive steps parents can take that will nurture rather than degrade the earth both now and into the future. As an additional benefit many of these practices will also protect the long term health of their children.

Simple steps to green parenting………
• Breast food is the greenest food
The health benefits of long term breast feeding are now well established. Fortunately breast feeding is also the most environmentally positive manner in which to feed your child, requiring no packaging, no transportation costs and no additional waste disposal services!

• Organic food, for better taste, better health and a better world
Once solid food is introduced organic produce is the best option for the earth and the individual. Generally higher in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, organic food also tastes fantastic and for children this is half the battle. Reports from mothers world wide have been that children are more likely to accept fresh organic produce than the conventional variety.

• Green bottoms
Nappies are a major source of landfill, in her book Greeniology, Tanya Ha notes that the average baby uses between 6000 to 8000 nappies before being fully toilet trained and that Australians are estimated to use around 800 million disposable nappies a year. Cloth nappies also have an environmental impact, both in production and in water and electricity usage. If you choose cloth opt for nappies made from environmentally sustainable fabrics such as hemp, organic cotton or bamboo and choose to wash them with cold water and non-toxic laundry products. If you choose to use disposable nappies, consider eco-disposable options. The lowest impact option of all is ‘Elimination Communication’ , a form of nurturing in which the parent uses timing, signals, cues, and intuition to help the infant address his or her elimination needs and thereby reducing or removing the use of nappies. For more on elimination communication see the article by Suzy Barry on page………..


• Squeaky clean but not so green
In the quest to have squeaky clean, sweet smelling babies we may be unintentionally lathering our children with a cocktail of unnecessary and potentially dangerous chemicals. With a higher skin surface area to body weight ratio, increased skin permeability, and higher respiratory rates, our babies may absorb higher levels of environmental pollutants than the average adult. Additionally an underdeveloped blood brain barrier, lower levels of serum albumin (a protein in the blood which may prevent chemicals from targeting specific organ sites) and an immature liver and kidneys, make newborns a highly susceptible group. The lowest impact and safest option is for bathing you baby is using nothing but water for as long as you can. When you do need something a little extra opting for natural, non-toxic baby soap and using it sparingly is the best option. If you do need a little extra moisture, use pure oil such as certified organic olive oil.


• Green Cleaning
In the desire to protect our child many of us opt for strong chemicals to ‘kill the germs’ when we have children around. Unfortunately the most likely consequence of our cleaning obsession is a child with allergies as a result of chronic low level exposure to indoor air pollution. These chemicals also end up in our waterways, polluting them and in the case of overuse of phosphates create the dangerous blue-green algal bloom. Many natural non-toxic alternatives are now available and often you need little more than bicarb soda and a microfibre cloth.



• Sustainable style for kids
Keeping your children in the most ‘fashionable’ clothing can be an expensive and environmentally devastating exercise. Every item of clothing has an environmental cost. This includes the water, pesticides and energy used to grow the crop, the synthetic chemicals used to colour and treat the garment, the fuel used in transportation, the packaging and finally the plastic bag we may decide to put it in. Fortunately there are a host of green options for every budget when it comes to clothing your baby and child. Second or third hand clothing is a great option and can be obtained from friends and family or your local second hand shop. When purchasing new clothes, choosing organic cotton or sustainable fibres such as hemp and bamboo is the eco option.


• Green with toy envy?
Keeping up with the Jones’s is not only bad for the mind it can be devastating for our world. Spoil your children with unique toys that connect them to the earth and our dependence on it. A great family toy or pet is a worm farm! Kids love to get their hands in a watch the worms eating the food scraps. The positive impact of children then being involved in using the worm castings to fertilize and nurture their organic vegetable patch can not be underestimated. Another great option is spending time making recycled paper with your children; this can be then used to make unique gift cards for friends and family.

• A greener school
Many schools are now taking up the green challenge by installing organic vegetable gardens, solar power and converting to natural cleaning methods. If your school is yet to take this action, be the proactive parent and help to get things rolling. Teachers are an incredibly valuable resource when it comes to educating our future eco-warriors, so providing them with the support they need to implement environmentally positive initiatives is every eco-conscious parents duty.

If we can’t hand our world over to the next generation a little better than we found it, the next best thing, is surely to provide them with the knowledge, the skills and the confidence to create a world better than we could ever have imagined.

Signing off, a less than perfect but ever optimistic green parent

Gina x

Lily's Birthday

Who would have thought; a home birth...

Our bundle of joy is now 14 months old, yet it seems like only yesterday that she was born. Birth stories can be personal, but I feel the need to share our positive experience as I think that so much fear is spread due to the horror stories that many people insist on 'sharing'. While I believe that everyone has the right to share their experience be it positive or negative as a way of healing any associated trauma or sharing incredible joy, we tend to dwell on the negative, so here for those interested is a positive birth story.

Several years ago I was shocked to find that a friend of ours was planning a home birth. At the time, I could not understand why an intelligent and educated woman would opt for, what seemed to me, such a risky option. I had witnessed several births during my days as a Physiotherapy student and had treated many women for damage to the perineal, spinal or abdominal areas sustained during birthing. I began to believe that trauma and damage were the norm in most cases of vaginal delivery. Based on this misconception and in the interest of preserving my nether regions, I was determined that when my time came, I would be booking into a private hospital for an elective caesarian.

The truth is in the research…………..
Like any good scientist and writer, I love to research and when we decided to start a family, my literature search began. My emotions ran into turmoil when most of the research indicated the benefits of a vaginal delivery over a caesarean section. In the case of a normal pregnancy, the outcomes for both the mother and baby were more favourable following a natural birth. While caesarean sections are an essential and lifesaving operation for those who require them, the research didn’t back up my idea of a caesarean as the primary birthing choice. It was time to reconsider my stance.

The decision for a natural birth…………………
On finding I was pregnant we consulted a well regarded Obstetrician. Together we opted for a natural delivery as our ‘plan A’, knowing that if things didn’t go to plan, we had a plethora of interventions at our fingertips.

A change of plans………………
Twenty-five weeks into the pregnancy, whilst touring the birthing suite at our chosen hospital, our birth plan changed dramatically. On entering the birthing suite with several other expectant couples, I felt the muscles in my arms and legs tighten and my heart race. I had visualised a serene and comfortable room as the setting for a calm and natural birth. I was greeted with a bed, with stirrups ‘up’ and ready for action and a scary looking contraption that can only be described as a baby BBQ, to warm and inspect the newborn. Whilst this scene was not new to me, it was the first time that I had viewed the set up through the anxious eyes of a prospective patient and parent.

Inadvertently my body had assumed the physiological response known as a ‘fight or flight’ response. In the face of potential danger our bodies release of the hormones adrenalin and noradrenalin, preparing us to fight or to run away from any potential threat. This primal response was a protective mechanism enabling our predecessors to suddenly halt the birthing process when facing danger. During a normal labour this response is not protective but rather can delay, prolong or halt the labour, causing a cascade of problems and initiating a cascade of intervention.

I had to reconsider my previous decisions, this wasn't as hard as I imagined; humans really do have an incredible capacity for change.


A home birth………………….
We contacted an independent midwife and on meeting Theresa, felt instantly at ease. She reinforced my new found realisation that my body was designed to give birth and that birthing at home would not only provide a comfortable environment but would facilitate an optimal hormonal release for both myself and our baby. At the end of the meeting I was armed with fresh insights, including the fact that 20 to 30 percent of first time mothers birthing at home, end up in hospital, usually for pain relief. However, I was also armed with a new found confidence in my body and despite being ready for any eventuality during the birth, deep down I knew that our baby would enter life in the spa in our bedroom.

The Labour…………
The first 18 hours of my labour were very peaceful. I moved between the beanbag, physioball and spa, and using a portable TENS machine and visualization to ease the contractions. I was able to continue with my days activities which included baking an organic apple tea cake. Our midwife, Theresa popped in to check on us twice during the day and returned when I had been in labour for 19 hours when the surges had become very strong and my hips were cramping. I thought I couldn’t take much more, but in her calm, supportive and empowering manner Theresa assured me that I could, and I believed her. Of course this didn’t stop me from screaming or from demanding my husband to ‘promise me you won’t let me do this again’.

Twenty-four hours into the labour, I was kneeling in the spa when something changed; my body took over. Surprisingly, I didn’t need to ‘push’ at all, if anything I was ‘panting’ to encourage my body to slow down. I could feel my uterus contracting and with each surge, I could feel more of our baby’s head on my hand, which comforted me with the knowledge that soon we would meet our little treasure. Moments later a little body was gliding rapidly through the water. The feeling of overwhelming exhilaration and love as I moved this precious new life onto my chest was intense and remains impossible to describe. It was several minutes before we looked to find the sex of our child – it seemed an almost irrelevant detail. We instantly fell in love with our very alert little princess Lilian Joy and have continued to fall deeper under her spell with every moment of every day. Twenty-seven hours after my labour had begun; my husband and I were tucked up in our bed, staring at our beautiful daughter, enjoying her birthday cake – the organic apple tea cake I had made during the labour. It was the best cake I have ever made.

If you are interested in natural birthing I highly recommend the following two books, which were invaluable for me;



Gentle Birth Gentle Mothering
Sarah is a mother of four, a GP with a special interest in Obstetrics and the daughter of an Obstetrician. This book examines the medical literature and intertwines it with Sarah's own birth experiences. It is a beautiful read, incredibly well referenced and really blends the science with the reality. I still read this book for its mothering advice and I highly recommend it. If you are new to natural birthing ideas, as I was to some extent, you may initially find the lotus birth idea confronting, but continue on, this book was one of the major contributors to my birthing confidence.

You can visit Sarah's website at http://www.sarahjbuckley.com/index.html

Another wonderful read is A Labour of Love by Gabrielle Targett

A Labour of Love is a non-medical approach to childbirth. I found it highly empowering and was also lucky enough to receive regular massages from the wonderful author during my pregnancy! The book covers the work of doulas and also different birthing options and experiences and is easy to read. It also assists de-mystifies and questions the fear surrounding birth today. You can visit Gabby's website at; http://www.alabouroflove.com.au/

Wishing all those pregnant women out there a wonderful birthing experience, however it happens for them

Gina

The science of healthy children; hazard reduction

The health of the next generation; it is in our hands

Regulators would have us believe that our current level of exposure to the vast array of synthetic chemicals is completely safe. The FDA's recent decision on BPA in baby bottles and other children's products is a prime and concerning example of this. In many cases we have been told that while toxic chemicals may exist in our products, we don't absorb them, however numerous studies have proved this incorrect. In 2005 investigations by the Environmental Working Group found 287 commercial chemicals, pesticides and environmental pollutants in the umbilical cord blood of 10 newborns (with an average of 204 different contaminants per newborn) . Subsequently we have been told, that we may absorb them, but they don't do any damage. This also has been found to be false, with BPA for example found not only to cause endocrine disruption, but also significantly increase the risk of diabetes and heart disease in those with the highest blood levels.

While the scientist in me agrees that cause and effect are extremely difficult to demonstrate in this complex area, I certainly am not waiting until any body or government legislates against the use of the growing number of threats to human health found in everday products. The following excerpt is from one of my articles for Clean Food Organic Volume 5, which is available from www.cleanfood.com.au and from many Health Food store, organic stores and newsagents.

Organic Pregnancy by Gina Cacho (BSc)
Our children are exposed to an unprecedented level of synthetic chemicals even before they make their way from the womb to the world. Does this contamination of the next generation pose a risk to their long term health and what can expectant parents do to protect their unborn children?

Synthetic chemicals now pervade all aspects of every day life. Around 100 000 different chemicals are registered for use in the European Union. In addition to the billions of kilos of industrial chemicals released into air, water and landfill we are now facing exposure to synthetic chemicals through our household products and furnishings, our food and it’s packaging, personal care and cleaning products, our toys and even our clothes. Recent research has shown unequivocally that the foetus in the womb is now exposed to a cocktail of toxic chemicals.

The past 60 years has seen significant growth in industry of all forms. Following the world wars of last century, production of many synthetic chemicals previously required in the war effort continued as executives looked to find new markets for their products. Regrettably many of these chemicals have now found their way into our everyday lives and homes despite the fact that most have never been tested for their safety to work in this capacity. These pollutants have been found to cause many adverse biological effects both in local wildlife (including waterways) and in communities. Additionally each year around 2 500 new synthetic chemicals are launched into industry with very little safety testing. Many of these relatively new (and often untested) synthetic chemical compounds mimic the body’s natural hormones and therefore disrupt the endocrine (hormonal) system. Hormone disruption / imbalance is often cited as a cause of disease. The development of a foetus is largely controlled by hormones, making the influx of these endocrine disrupting compounds into our everyday lives a major concern.

Declining Health
While some will correctly point out that some natural chemicals are also potentially harmful, it is only with the rise in use of synthetic chemicals in the home, that we have seen a significant increase in the rates of asthma, autism (10 fold increase since the early 80’s), testicular cancer (66%), childhood brain cancer (40% increase), acute lymphocyctic leukemia (62% increase) and behavioural disorders such as attention deficit disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Infertility rates and the rate of birth defects continue to rise and sperm counts continue to decline. While it is impossible to link these problems to one specific cause, environmental pollutants are likely to be contributing factors in the rise in the rates of cancer, allergies and developmental and reproductive disorders. It is also likely that prenatal exposure may increase the risk of an individual developing these diseases in adulthood.

Daily exposure
We live in chemical soup, with the majority of our daily activities providing a route for potentially harmful synthetic chemical exposure. The following list represents a small sample of the potential sources of contamination.
• Pesticides in our food and in the air
• Stain and grease resistant coatings for food wrap, carpet and furniture
• Fire retardants in TVs, computers and furniture
• Garbage incineration and plastic production
• Electrical insulation
• Car emissions and fossil fuel combustion
• Burning coal
• Personal care and cleaning products


The chemical cocktail
Some chemicals have been assessed for safety however most toxicology studies tend to look at individual chemicals in isolation. While this has been useful in providing insight into the likely sequelae of exposure to a particular chemical it does not provide useful information into the potential long term effects of the complex chemical combinations that are present in our bodies. While exposure to certain chemicals at high levels may result in severe birth defects, chronic low level exposure is likely to create more subtle changes that may surface later in childhood as learning or behavioural problems or in adulthood as cancer, autoimmune or neurodegenerative disease. Exposure safety limits are set with individual chemicals in mind. This does not take the interaction of chemicals or the effects of chronic bioaccumulation in the body tissues into consideration. While there is inevitable difficulty in determining a singular cause of most diseases, a study by the Natural Academy of Sciences in 2000 suggests that environmental factors contribute to at least 28% of childhood developmental disabilities.

Problematic research
Epidemiological studies are unable to provide precise information as there is little exposure data for most groups of chemicals. Having no unexposed groups to use as controls is also problematic. Additionally if a condition is frequent in a population then the ability to establish certain exposure as a direct cause is difficult. Currently hazard reduction is the best means of regulating exposure to these chemicals and while to some extent this requires changes in legislation and industrial practices there are certain steps we can take to reduce exposure for our unborn children.

Protecting the future generations
Some protection can be afforded by adopting the following strategies to minimize exposure. It is best to start following these guidelines as long before conception as possible, however reducing your exposure at any time before or during pregnancy is still beneficial.

EATING
• Eat less processed foods (which often contain chemical additives).
• Consume Organic foods which guarantee minimal pesticide residues for the consumer and protection for the farmer.
• Eat low on the food chain, by consuming less meat and dairy products which often contain a higher level of pollutants due to their high fat content (fatty tissues have a greater ability to accumulate persistent organic pollutants).
• Avoid consuming fish that are high on the food chain such as tuna and swordfish.
• Drink filtered water to reduce exposure to the pollutants found in most tap water.
• Avoid heating food in plastic, particularly soft plastics which can leech chemical contaminants into food.

PERSONAL CARE
• Reduce the number of personal care products you use and choose truly natural and /or organic varieties.
• Do not use conventional nail polish; if you must have painted digits opt for naturally based less toxic varieties.
• Avoid synthetic fragrances including perfume, aftershave, air fresheners and perfumed cleaning or personal care products.

HOME
• Avoid the use of stain repellants and opt for certified organic bedding.
• If you are pregnant use your growing belly to encourage somebody else to fill your car with petrol.
• Avoid painting the nursery or performing renovations either while you are pregnant or trying to conceive. If you must renovate, use non-toxic paints and finishes whenever possible.
• When furnishing the nursery avoid purchasing pressed wood products that often use formaldehyde based glues. Opt for solid untreated plantation wood.
• Avoid conventional chemical based cleaning products.
• Consider a water filter for your shower to reduce contaminants.

BABY
• Avoid allowing your baby to play with or suck on PVC toys.
• Use minimal personal care products for your baby and stick to completely natural and or organic varieties.
• Opt for certified organic clothing and bedding for your newborn, or second hand clothing that is likely to have ‘off gassed’ many of the toxic substances.

Protecting the next generation is in our hands.
So while our legislators sift through poor quality studies sponsored by chemical producers, many of us will be making a positive change for our future. Even if you can make only one small change a month, you may be improving your families long term health, and in my mind, there is nothing more important than that.

With green thoughts for those making a difference

Gina



References:
Dorey C 2003. ‘Chemical Legacy: Contamination of the Child’. Greenpeace.
Greenpeace International 2005 ‘An Investigation of chemicals in Perfumes’.
Houlihan J, Brody C and Schwan B 2002. ‘Not Too Pretty, Phthalates, Beauty Products and the FDA’. Environmental Working Group.
Houlihan J, Kropp T, Wiles R, Gray S and Campbell C. 2005 Body Burden The Pollution in Newborns. Environmental Working Group.
‘The Human Impact of Man-made Chemicals’, Greenpeace UK, 2003.
National Academy of Sciences 2000. Scientific Frontiers in Developmental Toxicology and Risk Assessment. Committee on Developmental Toxicology. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, Washington, DC.
Peters, RJB 2003 ‘Hazardous Chemicals in Consumer Products’. TNO Netherlands Organisation for Applied Research.
US Environmental Protection Agency 2005. Supplemental guidance for assessing susceptibility from early-life exposures to carcinogens. EPA Risk Assessment Forum.
Swan SH, Elkin EP, Fenster L, 2000. The question of declining sperm density revisited; an analysis of 101 studies published 1934-1996. Environmental Health Perspectives 108; 961-966.