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Luminous Animal

(27,310 posts)
Tue Oct 22, 2013, 03:32 PM Oct 2013

European Network of Scientists isssue statement: No scientific consensus on GMO safety

http://www.ensser.org/increasing-public-information/no-scientific-consensus-on-gmo-safety/

We feel compelled to issue this statement because the claimed consensus on GMO safety does not exist. The claim that it does exist is misleading and misrepresents the currently available scientific evidence and the broad diversity of opinion among scientists on this issue. Moreover, the claim encourages a climate of complacency that could lead to a lack of regulatory and scientific rigour and appropriate caution, potentially endangering the health of humans, animals, and the environment.

....

1. There is no consensus on GM food safety
2. There are no epidemiological studies investigating potential effects of GM food consumption on human health
3. Claims that scientific and governmental bodies endorse GMO safety are exaggerated or inaccurate
4. EU research project does not provide reliable evidence of GM food safety
5. List of several hundred studies does not show GM food safety
6. There is no consensus on the environmental risks of GM crops
7. International agreements show widespread recognition of risks posed by GM foods and crops

...

Conclusion



In the scope of this document, we can only highlight a few examples to illustrate that the totality of scientific research outcomes in the field of GM crop safety is nuanced, complex, often contradictory or inconclusive, confounded by researchers’ choices, assumptions, and funding sources, and in general, has raised more questions than it has currently answered.

Whether to continue and expand the introduction of GM crops and foods into the human food and animal feed supply, and whether the identified risks are acceptable or not, are decisions that involve socioeconomic considerations beyond the scope of a narrow scientific debate and the currently unresolved biosafety research agendas. These decisions must therefore involve the broader society. They should, however, be supported by strong scientific evidence on the long-term safety of GM crops and foods for human and animal health and the environment, obtained in a manner that is honest, ethical, rigorous, independent, transparent, and sufficiently diversified to compensate for bias.

Decisions on the future of our food and agriculture should not be based on misleading and misrepresentative claims that a “scientific consensus” exists on GMO safety.



21 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
European Network of Scientists isssue statement: No scientific consensus on GMO safety (Original Post) Luminous Animal Oct 2013 OP
Kick. Luminous Animal Oct 2013 #1
And we have seen regulatory capture nadinbrzezinski Oct 2013 #2
Hear, Hear. dipsydoodle Oct 2013 #3
Statement signed by 90 people. MineralMan Oct 2013 #4
Yes. Signed by 90 "people" Luminous Animal Oct 2013 #5
Yes, they are scientists. I said nothing about their qualifications, MineralMan Oct 2013 #6
Yes. I noticed you said nothing about their qualifications. Luminous Animal Oct 2013 #7
In my world, many, many people have PhDs. MineralMan Oct 2013 #8
Yes. And I took the time to check out the bios of about a third of them and felt comfortable, based Luminous Animal Oct 2013 #11
With all due respect... jimlup Oct 2013 #9
I apologize. I thought that "GMO" was as recognizable as "ACLU". Luminous Animal Oct 2013 #15
No problem... thanks jimlup Oct 2013 #17
Thanks for posting BelgianMadCow Oct 2013 #10
Of course you can use it! Luminous Animal Oct 2013 #12
This is the largest EXperiment in the world: and it's on human beings Berlum Oct 2013 #13
The same whackjobs who thing Climate change is science bunk, are GMO boosters Berlum Oct 2013 #14
Recommend! It's an Interesting Read! KoKo Oct 2013 #16
k&r - the last word on GMO's is far from written - n/t appal_jack Oct 2013 #18
K&R woo me with science Oct 2013 #19
kick woo me with science Oct 2013 #20
I was told on DU that the subject is over and anyone against GMOs BrotherIvan Oct 2013 #21

MineralMan

(146,281 posts)
4. Statement signed by 90 people.
Tue Oct 22, 2013, 04:08 PM
Oct 2013

This is not a highly-recognized organization, I'm afraid. Rather, it is an advocacy organization.

They may be right, but that's far from certain. Agreement with the conclusions of an advocacy organization is not evidence of much of anything, really. It's just agreement with an advocacy organization.

The European Network of Scientists for Social and Environmental Responsibility (ENSSER) is a non-profit association registered under German law.


That's all we really know about this organization.

Luminous Animal

(27,310 posts)
5. Yes. Signed by 90 "people"
Tue Oct 22, 2013, 04:42 PM
Oct 2013

1. Michael Antoniou, PhD, Gene Expression and Therapy Group, School of Medicine, King’s College London, UK

2. Arnaud Apoteker, PhD in Applied Biology and physicochemistry, Belgium

3.Elena Avarez-Buylla, PhD, Professor of Molecular Genetics, Development and Evolution of Plants, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico

And so on...

http://www.ensser.org/fileadmin/user_upload/First_signatories_to_the_statement_no_scientific_consensus_on_GMO_safety_131022.pdf



MineralMan

(146,281 posts)
6. Yes, they are scientists. I said nothing about their qualifications,
Tue Oct 22, 2013, 04:46 PM
Oct 2013

just their numbers and the nature of the organization.

That said, I don't know any of them, with regard to their reputations in their field. So, all I have is the PhD after their names on which to base my assessment of their credibility.

Maybe you're more familiar with these folks than I am.

Luminous Animal

(27,310 posts)
11. Yes. And I took the time to check out the bios of about a third of them and felt comfortable, based
Tue Oct 22, 2013, 07:09 PM
Oct 2013

on that information, posting the link and the snip.

You should try it.

jimlup

(7,968 posts)
9. With all due respect...
Tue Oct 22, 2013, 06:47 PM
Oct 2013

I'm a Ph.D. physicist but I don't speak alphabet soup. While I figured it out it actually took me awhile. Please use the unabbreviated version at least once with the ensuing abbreviation in parenthesis.

jimlup

(7,968 posts)
17. No problem... thanks
Tue Oct 22, 2013, 08:22 PM
Oct 2013

Yeah I get frustrated with the Alphabet soup world sometimes...

The information itself is interesting to me though. Thanks...

BelgianMadCow

(5,379 posts)
10. Thanks for posting
Tue Oct 22, 2013, 07:06 PM
Oct 2013

GMO debate here in Belgium is very current, and I contribute to it. Can use this

The 2nd on the list, Arnaud Apoteker, has a funny name since Apoteker is dutch for Pharmacist, so I was thinking hmm could be a fake name. Went to check, he campaigns against GMOs for the European Greens in Parliament, so legit.

Thanks again!

Berlum

(7,044 posts)
13. This is the largest EXperiment in the world: and it's on human beings
Tue Oct 22, 2013, 07:13 PM
Oct 2013

Big Ag, Inc., Big Gene, Inc. and Big Chem, Inc. have been performing a massive OCCULT experiment -- with unpredictable results -- on human beings who have not given their consent, and who have not even been accorded the basic respect of being told that they are EXperimental subjects.

Their Mutant chemicalized foodlike "products" will have consequences.

Berlum

(7,044 posts)
14. The same whackjobs who thing Climate change is science bunk, are GMO boosters
Tue Oct 22, 2013, 07:55 PM
Oct 2013

And they are the same whackjobs who say GMO foodlike crapola should remain OCCULTLY unlabeled. What does that tell you?

BrotherIvan

(9,126 posts)
21. I was told on DU that the subject is over and anyone against GMOs
Wed Oct 23, 2013, 09:19 PM
Oct 2013

must be against science proven facts such as climate change. To be against frankenfoods is woo.

The science experiment that is altering food is dangerous at best. Then we are told we can feed the world with all these new advances, when that is not the problem and everyone knows it. Drugs that have been tested a thousand times more than GMOs create harmful side effects because organisms are complex and we understand so little about how the body works. We are already seeing the effects of altered wheat in the skyrocketing of celiac, Crohn's, and other digestive diseases. We are seeing the altering of hormones from super-estrogenic soy. How much collateral damage is acceptable?

If it's so great label it. If it's so healthful, test and prove it.

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