Greenpeace alert on genetically modified corn in Indian food products
2 May 2008, 2101 Hrs

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New Delhi, May 2 (ANI): Greenpeace, an environmental activist group sounded an alert in New Delhi on Friday on the presence of Genetically Modified (GM) corn in Indian food products that is harmful to humans.

Tests conducted at an independent laboratory on products picked up randomly from a supermarket in New Delhi revealed that Pepsico's Doritos corn chips contain genetically modified Mon 863 and NK603 variety corn ingredients.

Both Mon 863 and NK 603 are Monsanto's genetically modified corn varieties. Mon 863 has a bacterial gene for pesticide tolerance while NK 603 has a bacterial gene for herbicide tolerance.

"In 2007, an independent analysis by well known toxicologists and microbiologists in Europe confirmed that genetically modified corn is not safe for eating. The same corn is being sold in India. The products of the same corn are being sold in India. We want to show this to the people and the government that this has been going on and it is high time that the government take action," said Rajesh Krishnan, campaigner, Sustainable Agriculture, Greenpeace India.

The debate that ensued led many countries in Europe including France and Romania to stop the cultivation of GM corn. None of these varieties have been approved by in India for human consumption.

Greenpeace is demanding that the Health Ministry take notice of this serious violation and threat to human health and constitute the Food Safety and Standards Authority at the earliest. (ANI)