This was the sarcastic response by the government on the scare and anxiety surrounding GM foods. It is little wonder that consumer confidence in food is at rock bottom. The British public have been betrayed by farmers, manufacturers, scientists, officials and politicians over the years. For Muslim and other God-concious people there is a greater question than just the safety aspect, there is the moral and ethical point of view.
Tampering with nature by implanting genes from one organism into another, which nature has not sanctioned that through natural processes, is asking for trouble. God has created and fashioned every living thing in the best form and man is asked to understand nature and to work in harmony with it and not to tamper with its make up. Gene modification has been conducted by man for centuries using natural methods involving organisms of the same species. In Islam this is encouraged to help create better crop and livestock.
The consequences of changing natural processes has already been seen with the BSE scandal after cattle were changed from herbivores to cannibal carnivores as a result of mans greed and exploitation. Cattle need protein supplement in the winter when the grass is thin and weak. Previously soya bean (the richest known provider of vegetable protein) was used. Then someone suggested grinding the remnants of dead cattle and sheep and feeding them back to the live beasts providing cheap protein.
£3 billion, 10,000 ruined farmers and 2.5 million slaughtered cattle was the legacy of this disease. What of the impact on humans? "Do not worry" said the government and its advisors, "BSE cannot be passed from one species to another." NO? There have been 35 known deaths of the human equivalent CJD and it seems we will never learn from our mistakes.
Similar errors are being made again. In BSE those scientists who tried to warn us had their research suspended and never published or they were ridiculed. At that time it was the farming lobby which put pressure on the government, this time it is the US giant Monsanto, which is the leader in GM foods.
Monsanto, with its vast PR budget, has infiltrated the leading governments through paying for their conferences, backing their political agenda and making large donations to the party funds. It has over a thousand research scientists working for it in around 250 laboratories at the headquarters alone. This incidentally is the company which paid £55 million to US veterans after saying that its defoliant (a chemical that kills tree leaves), Agent Orange, could be safely handled. The chemical had been responsible for the deformities of up to 500,000 Vietnamese children.
A food utopia is dangled before us; larger fruits, bigger root crops and crops that may even be grown in the desert. In reality, they are a smoke screen to the real issue which is controlling world agriculture and thus being in the position of subjugating people to their wishes.
This can be stopped by people power. Do not purchase anything containing GM products; write to your MP and the food minister Jeff Rooker (England, UK only). Also show your solidarity and support to pressure groups which are campaigning to ban GM foods as there is no need for them even in third world.
What are genetically modified (GM) foods?
GM foods are from crops whose genes have been
altered by scientists.
Why have they been developed?
There are mainly economical and political reasons.
The outward projection is that agriculture will be profitable by enabling
crops to become resistant to drought and pests. The hidden agenda
is to control world agriculture which can be used for political reasons
in the future. "Terminator" genes are being developed, which means
one way or another we will all be dependent on GM foods.
Is it natural?
No. Taking genes from animals and inserting
them into an agricultural crop would never happen in the natural world.
Is it dangerous?
There is no safety data on GM foods. Lessons
from BSE have not been learned. Much safety data is suppressed by
the likes of Monsanto. In 1989, 39 Americans died from taking GM
amino acid tryptophan. Prof. Pustztai of Rowet institute in Scotland
found that rats fed on GM potatoes suffered damage to their stomachs, brains
and their immune system was weakened.
What effect can GM crops have on the environment?
It is possible that pollen from GM foods can
be carried by wind and insects and pollinate non-GM foods. The risk
from cross contamination is great and as a result 'natural plants' could
become a thing of the past. In addition some of these GM foods could
result in the death of certain insects which in turn can affect the population
of birds and a whole Eco-disaster could be looming. At the very least
a moratorium is needed to asses all aspects of these risks.
Are GM foods already in British shops?
They are thought to be widespread, mainly in
processed foods like ready made meals or biscuits through the use of GM
Soya and Maize. Most supermarkets stock them, only the Iceland (UK)
chain has banned them.
How do you know that you are eating GM foods?
Under current EU legislation, GM products do
not need to be labelled as such. The last government opposed all
European moves to label GM foods on a compulsory basis and followed the
same policy as in the US.
Is there a need for GM foods?
No. Other than for quick profits and control
of world agriculture. Organic farming can meet the need and would
provide employment for millions across the world. No consumer has
asked for GM foods. Instead we have been forced to eat it unknowingly.
Indeed, most people want adequate labelling so that they can avoid it.
A recent Mori poll found that 77% of those questioned would like to see
an end to experiments with GM crops in the UK.
Have you been eating GM foods?
McDonalds has two products with GM ingredients; the Fillet-O-Fish and fish fingers, both of which are coated with GM corn starch.
Burger King has GM ingredients in some of its products. These include Onion Rings, Doughnuts and Apple Pies, all of which contain GM soya.
Mcvitie's Biscuits: All their chocolate biscuits contain the additive lecithin, which is derived from GM Soya.
Fish and Chips. To ensure that your Fish and Chips are GM free, check that they are not being cooked in soya oil, which may contain modified soya.
Pizza Hut Some of the ingredients including vegetarian cheese used for toppings may contain GM ingredients.
Muslims strongly believe that God is the only CREATOR for everything in this life. He created man, He organized the right formula (genes) and has put His Divine Blue Print in all His Creation.
One of God's attributes is that He is THE BEST DESIGNER; Everything in the universe is created and maintained in the best form.
Today many scientists are playing god by tampering with nature. They are naive and ignorant to believe they can produce better quality fruits and vegetables by genetic manipulation. It is this lack of basic Divine Ethical concepts which is causing the problems in our society.
Let us look at some quotations from the Words of God which are mentioned in the Holy Qur'an.
" It is He who created all things and ordained them in due proportions. " (Holy Qur'an, 25:2)
"We have created everything according to a fixed decree." (Holy Qur'an, 54:49)
"He perfected everything which He created and began the creation of man from clay." (Holy Qur'an, 32:7)
But, what do YOU think, letme
know.