BT-brinjal; damages liver, pancreas, intestinal and even inter-generational

India shouldn't approve Bt brinjal: Analyst
Press Trust Of India / Mumbai March 02, 2009, 0:09 IST

Genetically modified (GM) food, including the latest Bt Brinjal, affects human health in various ways and should not be approved by India, latest studies have confirmed.

“Bt Brinjal, like many other GM crops, has recently been shown by independent analysis to impact health adversely,” a well-known food and trade analyst Devinder Sharma said here.

When GM food was tested on rats, the results were alarming and should not be allowed to enter India,” Sharma, from the Delhi-based Forum for Food Security and Biotechnolgy, said.

“The evidence linked GM food showed stunted growth, impaired immune systems, damages to liver, pancreas, intestinal and even inter-generational effects. Latest studies have confirmed that GM foods affect fertility as well,” he added.

If the consumers do not raise their voices and question the decision, to be taken by the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) to approve Bt brinjal (genetically modified using a gram positive soil swelling bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis), it would create health problems, he cautioned.

“Normal brinjal and the Bt variety will have similar appearance and you may not be able to distibgusih it. You will not be able to exercise your informed choice of not eating Bt brinjal,” Sharma cautioned.

Also, the GEAC is considering the approval of Bt brinjal merely on the data provided by the company and has not asked for any independent or long-term testing or verification; nor have they consulted farmers or consumers, he said.

The idea of the genetic modification is to make the brinjal generate its own toxin so that insects and pests.