GM FOOD

Concern Over Antibiotic resistant genes in GM food
15 SEPTEMBER 2003

	Has Aspinall got his facts straight?
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Following their recent local protests over GM food, the AWARE group is now waging a campaign against antibiotic resistant genes in GM products.

Ben Aspinall, spokesman for the northern branch of AWARE commented, "this is just another terrible consequence of genetically engineered food. All these antibiotics they are putting in food will make the antibiotics we receive when we are ill less effective." However, scientist Andy countered, "Ben has got his facts wrong. They don't put antibiotics in GM products, they are antibiotic resistant genes, which are only active in plants, not humans."

Nevertheless, recently there has been much debate over the safety of GM products and now concern is rising over genetically engineered tomatoes, which scientists say could make bacteria in the gut resistant to antibiotics. The recent report by the British government's Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP) has warned that if food containing these antibiotic resistant genes are eaten, they might find their way into microorganisms in the gut and make them resistant too, thereby making the body susceptible to bacteria and serious disease.

Fears that genetically modified foods might promote drug-resistant "superbugs" have also been raised although, as yet, there is no evidence to support this theory. Indeed, extensive research has also failed, as yet, to find proof that antibiotic resistant genes can pass from food to bacteria in the human gut. However, scientists have not yet ruled out that it is a possibility.