list of gmo foods in south africa

Suite 3, 12 Clamart Road, Richmond 2092, Johannesburg, South Africa Tel & Fax +27 (0) 11 482 8915 The African Centre for Biosafety (ACB) is a non profit organisation, based in Johannesburg, South Africa. “Scientific evidence recommends caution with respect to certain kinds of GMOs, especially if there are genes involved that confer antibiotic resistance. Even though you may not realize it, you’re probably eating GMOs. Potjiekos is a quintessential South African dish born purely out of necessity to cook whilst … Between 70% and 80% of maize consumed in South Africa is genetically modified, and ours is the only country in the world whose staple is primarily GMO. The transfer of genes from an allergenic organism to a non-allergenic organism can increase the risk of the new organism causing allergic reactions. South Africa is unique in that it has allowed the country’s staple foods to be genetically modified. South Africa first approved the release of genetically modified, insect-resistant cotton and maize in 1997, and is one of the only countries in Africa to approve this method of farming. RELATED: GMOs in South Africa: Facts at a Glance The first GM crops, yellow maize hybrids from Monsanto, were introduced in 1997. Soy. The changes made by the introduction of this gazette will enter into force on November 17, 2017. Some US companies started voluntarily disclosing that their food products are made using genetic engineering, yet they don’t specify exactly which ingredients are GMO. Other common traits in However, although some companies have started labeling voluntarily, government is certainly not doing enough to implement labeling, and monitoring – which is extremely necessary – is not happening,” said Swanby. mielie meal, breakfast cereals containing maize, corn chips. http://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2015/from-corgis-to-corn-a-brief-look-at-the-long-history-of-gmo-technology/ In the future biotech crops could offer foods with higher nutrient levels, longer shelf life and the ability to grow, even in the face of climate change. NO GMO South Africa. But the food industry disputes the interpretation of the regulations meant to implement this, and so we have been at stalemate on the labeling issue for years now. Jonathan Latham, who writes for Bioscience, claims that the purpose of GM foods is not to feed the world or improve farming, but is rather about commercial gain. South Africa was the continent’s sole cultivator of GM maize, cotton and soybeans until 2008, when Egypt began growing GM maize, and Burkina Faso started growing GM cotton. In the case of GMO produce, a consumer may be completely unaware that what they are consuming could contain allergens. The majority of these species contain genes that make them either tolerant to herbicides or resistant to insects. Table 1. Glyphosate is a probable carcinogen, which means that it can cause cancer. Despite the higher cost of GM seeds, adoption by many farmers was quick, steady, and widespread. https://www.loc.gov/law/help/restrictions-on-gmos/south-africa.php Genetically Modified Crops in Africa: Economic and Policy Lessons from Countries South of the Sahara investigates how this tool might be effectively used by evaluating the benefits, costs, and risks for African countries of adopting GM crops. Beginning in 1998, South Africa is the major grower of GM crops, with Burkina Faso and Egypt starting in 2008. The Health Department’s role is to work with all stakeholders and the food industry to ensure that the South African public has access to nutritious food that enhances their overall health status,” said Popo Maja, media liaison officer for the national Department of Health. In the case of severe allergies, this could be life threatening. When compared to organic foods, Stanford University has even found that there are no additional health risks when eating GMO foods or organic foods. Most South Africans, without their knowledge or consent, are unknowingly consuming genetically modified food products every single day. ), and is often referred to as “the father of genetics”. Beating the bloat at that time of the month. Glyphosate is a carcinogen, which means that it is capable of causing cancer. In South Africa, numerous field trials have been approved for additional forms of GM maize, GM soya and GM cotton, as well as for GM sugar-cane, GM potato and GM cassava, amongst others. Potjiekos. Genetically modified organisms are found in many food products, from corn on the cob to your favorite crackers. https://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/issues/311/ge-foods/ge-food-and-your-health# GM foods include or are made from a genetically modified organism (GMO), such as GM soy beans or GM yeast. NO GMO South Africa is aimed at raising awareness of the dangers of genetically modified organisms in South Africa. Our GMO testing can help inspire consumer confidence and ensure that your animal feeds meet the appropriate national and international controls. Genetically Modified Crops in Africa: Economic and Policy Lessons from Countries South of the Sahara investigates how this tool might be effectively used by evaluating the benefits, costs, and risks for African countries of adopting GM crops. Aspartame. According to Groenewald, the concerns of these groups are addressed in the detailed reports of a multitude of governmental regulatory agencies, independent scientific organisations, and leading health associations around the world. Health concern around GMO consumption is vigorously refuted by many, but Galloway believes there is a moral imperative to give people the choice to buy affordable non-GMO foods. The status of GMO crops in Africa hasn’t changed all that much since the 2009 publicationof “GMO Trade Regulation and Developing Countries” by Richard B. Stewart, who wrote: Different assessments of costs and benefits among the nations have led to a patchwork of environmental health and safety regulations regarding GMO foods and crops. Overexposure to these elements could render life-saving antibiotics useless. According to the EPA, aspartame is a chemical that causes neurotoxicity. Galloway says she has looked hard but has struggled to find any maize products labeled GMO-free. But the two countries could not let the endless debates around biotech derail their newfound formula for averting hunger. 1. But the real debate about GMO’s is their use in food production. However, Biowatch South Africa, an organisation interested in food security and biosafety in the country, reports that field trials have been carried out on genetically modified potatoes, wheat, canola, sugarcane, apple, eucalyptus, strawberry, sugar … CERTIFICATION. When analyzing processed foods, it can be difficult to detect material derived from genetically modified plants due to its degradation during the manufacturing process. The Kingdom of Swaziland, the country worst-affected by HIV on the planet, has made monumental gains in the fight against AIDS in the past five years. But being a continent of contrasts, it also has some first-world farms and developed food processing provisions. Farmer Angus, a popular farming blogger, has warned that the chemical cannot be destroyed by cooking. South Africa has had compulsory GM labelling regulations in place since 2004 when the Department of Health (DOH) introduced labelling regulations under the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act (1972) – Regulation 25. More than 70 % of all the GM crops currently grown in … Corporate production of food also leads to waste. Rising unemployment breeds desperation which in turn leads to people to be duped into opportunities that seem too good to be true. In the early 1970’s, scientists created a technique that allowed them to cut pieces of DNA in certain places, and then attach the pieces to the DNA of other organisms, the beginning of modern day engineering. There are a lot of buzzwords in the field of nutrition at the moment, but the one that gets most of the limelight is “GMOs”. The application of the GMO Act allows South Africa to conduct a science-based case-by-case assessment of the potential risks that may arise from the use of a particular GMO. We Encourage South Africans to Support Local Farmers & Markets who produce Organic Fresh & Processed Foods which are Free of GMOs: There are benefits to the use of GM crops. http://www.medicaldaily.com/brief-history-genetically-modified-organisms-prehistoric-breeding-modern-344076 Soybean, maize and cotton – gmo.geneticliteracyproject.org Most of the foods in which you will find GM ingredients are processed. According to Dr Kobus Laubscher, CEO of Grain SA, this is an important development for sustainable food production in South Africa. And even if these products were correctly labeled, the majority of South Africans would have little choice but to consume them,” said Haidee Swanby from African Centre for Biosafety (ACB). They also feature widespread food vending in the urban spaces. Sugar vs. fat – which is worse for your health? Relative to other African countries, South Africa embraced biotechnology early on. According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) about 10 million tons of food is wasted in South Africa on an annual basis. 12K likes. NO GMO South Africa. This combining of DNA sets leads to the creation of a new variety of plant or organism, designed to n withstand weed killers and herbicides that contain the active ingredient glyphosate – a product that kills all plants that are not genetically modified. 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