[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
[SANET-MG] Ben and Jerry and GM ice cream
July 9, 2006
Prof. Joe Cummins
Environmentalists Ben and Jerry may feed children genetically modified
Ice Cream
The Ben and Jerry brand of ice cream is not only tasty but it flaunts
its roots in “organic” food. Company information is found at:
http://www.benjerry.com/
In August, 2000 - Company purchased by Unilever for $43.60 per share. In
spite of that Ben and Jerry continue to flaunt their progressive roots
and have founded organizations to support children’s issues and organic
concerns., for example: “We started TrueMajority in order to compound
the power of all those who believe in social justice, giving children a
decent start in life, protecting the environment, and America working in
cooperation with the world community…. Here’s how True Majority works:
We monitor what’s going on in Washington based on the principles of
peace, justice, and sustainability.”
Ben and Jerry’s corporate dictator is Unilever who introduced an ice
structuring protein (antifreeze protein) into sorbets, water ice, fruit
ice, frozen desserts, iced smoothies - and ice cream. The ice
structuring protein (ISP) originated from a gene of an arctic fish
(ocean pout) but its production had to be genetically manipulated to
provide production without causing extinction of the fish. A synthetic
approximation of the ISP gene was transferred to the chromosomes of
bakers yeast and the protein was produced in fermentation chambers. The
final ISP preparation derived from this process is a mixture of ISP type
III HPLC 12, glycosylated ISP, proteins and peptides from the yeast used
to produce ISP, and sugars, acids, and salts that are commonly found in
food.
In nature sugars are added to many proteins and this species specific
pattern sugar pattern on the protein may trigger the immune system to
cause allergy or inflammation. The genetically modified yeast cells were
mostly eliminated in preparation of the ISP destined for ice cream but
the ISP protein retained a sugar pattern typical of yeast. However,
government regulators accepted the companies contention that the sugar
patterns imposed on ISP by yeast would be harmless because yeast did not
cause immunity problems in humans. ( human pharmaceutical proteins
produced in yeast actually caused problems requiring that yeast be
genetically modified to produce humanized sugar patterns but Unilever
did not use such humanized yeast ). Furthermore, the corporation argued
that the ISP proteins made in yeast were identical to the pouter ISP
even though they had yeast sugar patterns, thus the ISP produced in
yeast was not genetically modified even though it was produced by
genetically modified yeast. Even though the argument appears to be
feckless it was taken to heart by government regulators (government
regulators are notoriously cooperative and uncritical). The Unilever ice
cream producers deny that the ice cream contains genetically modified
protein but that claim ignores the origin of yeast ISP from a synthetic
gene and the sugar pattern imposed on it by the genetic makeup of the yeast.
Unilever reported efforts to test the allergic response to yeast ISP by
studying the response to yeast ISP in the blood of people suffering from
allergy to cod fish. This experiment was deceptive because the cod
allergy is caused by a cod blood protein unrelated grouper ISP and it
proves nothing and provides specious public relations benefits.
Furthermore, Unilever provided evidence based on negative tests for the
World Health Organization recommended laboratory tests for allergic
response to Novel Foods. The definition of Novel Foods is a food that
has not previously been used as food, results from a process that has
not previously been used for food , or has been used as food, but has
been modified such that: the food results from genetic manipulation and
exhibits one or more characteristics that were not previously identified
in that food, or the food results from production by a genetically
manipulated organism exhibiting such new characteristics(1). In spite of
their use of tests for genetically modified food Unilever maintained
that the ice cream protein was not genetically modified!
Some countries have relaxed labeling requirements for foods to which
proteins produced from synthetic genes and recombinant organisms have
been added provided that the proteins have an amino acid sequence
similar to a naturally produced protein. However, the patterns of added
sugars often determine immune responses such as allergy and
inflammation. If labels are not provided for foods manufactured with
protein produced from recombinant organisms serious human injury from
such foods may go undetected in a huge unsuspecting population.
A fuller brief on problems associated with the yeast (pouter)ISP is
provided on the Institute for Science and Society website : GM Protein
in Ice Cream Genetically modified fish antifreeze protein is potentially
able to cause inflammation and should not be approved without
comprehensive tests (2).
In conclusion, foods produced using proteins produced using synthetic
genes and novel organisms should be labeled regardless of any gross
similarity to proteins produced in natural organisms. A failure to heed
such provisions can lead to extensive human injury. Ben and Jerry , it
is hoped, will reveal any use yeast-pouter fish ISP in their products. I
have asked Ben and Jerry to tell me whether or not they use the yeast
(pouter) ISP in their ice cream. Until they reply I will avoid a major
secret pleasure, a Ben and Jerry Phish Food® Ice Cream at bedtime.
Those of us who study the use of genetically modified organisms in food,
feed and pharmaceuticals need to be alert about the current regulatory
jiggery pokery in the area of food and feed additives and insure that
the public is alerted to the use of synthetic genes and novel organisms
to produce such additives. The public deserves such vital information.
References
1.Definition of Novel Food
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/legislation/guide-ld/nvvli_e.html
2. Prof. Joe Cummins, Dr. Mae-Wan Ho and Prof. Malcolm Hooper GM Protein
in Ice Cream :Genetically modified fish antifreeze protein is
potentially able to cause inflammation and should not be approved
without comprehensive tests ISIS Press Release 04/07/06
http://www.i-sis.org.uk/GMPIIC.php
.
********************************************************
To unsubscribe from SANET-MG:
1- Visit http://lists.sare.org/archives/sanet-mg.html to unsubscribe or;
2- Send a message to <listserv@sare.org> from the address subscribed to the list. Type "unsubscribe sanet-mg" in the body of the message.
Visit the SANET-MG archives at: http://lists.sare.org/archives/sanet-mg.html.
Questions? Visit http://www.sare.org/about/sanetFAQ.htm.
For more information on grants and other resources available through the SARE program, please visit http://www.sare.org.