Greenpeace finds honey contaminated with genetically engineered canola

The environment group has set up a mobile “Biohazard Research Centre” at a GE canola field near Geelong in southern Victoria, and is calling on Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon to use her powers to properly assess the health and environmental risks of GE crops.

“Honey samples from the hives metres from a genetically engineered canola field near Geelong were found to contain Monsanto’s Roundup Ready canola pollen. This means that people buying honey from this hive will be eating GE food without knowing it, and before it has been properly assessed that it’s safe to eat,” said Greenpeace GE campaigner Louise Sales. “The GE canola farmer is not obliged to inform his neighbours about what he is growing, so the beekeeper has been kept as much in the dark as everyone else.”

Greenpeace will monitor wind speed and pollen flow onsite to determine how far pollen from the GE canola crop is likely to spread.

Greenpeace is taking action today to draw attention to the fact that GE canola was approved for release in Australia under the Howard government without proper studies into the impacts on human health or the environment. Roundup Ready canola has been shown to have adverse effects on livers in Monsanto’s own rat feeding studies, and has been banned in Europe (1).

“It’s time for Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon to step in and ensure independent proof that GE crops and food are safe ‘beyond reasonable doubt’, in line with the ALP’s election promise,” said Ms Sales. “We need biodiversity studies to examine the impact on surrounding plants, insects and animals of these new crops and the farming techniques they require. Such studies in the UK found significant impacts on wildlife.”

Today’s action follows the recent discovery of GE canola growing along roadside verges near Berrigan, New South Wales and Horsham in Victoria (2). South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia still have GE crop bans in place.

Local farmers and community members have joined Greenpeace at their research station to protest the spread of GE canola. Non-organic farmer Evan Hardy says, “I’m concerned that the introduction of GE crops will remove choice for all farmers. GE contamination will lead to the increasing domination of agriculture by large chemical companies and the increased reliance on toxic herbicides.”

Melbourne restaurateur Duré Dara has come to the site to express her concerns: “We need our governments to be more responsible to think about genetically engineered food in a much more considered way. Food protection is an issue that affects tourism, our world image and the health of our citizens.” Ms Dara co-manages the Nudel Bar and Residential restaurants and is one of nearly 200 leading chefs and restaurateurs who have signed the GM-free Chef’s Charter.

The canola harvest from this farm, along with other GE canola growers in Victoria and NSW will be sent to silos to be crushed for oil and animal feed. Because oils and feed are currently exempt from the GE food labelling laws, GE canola oil could end up in a wide range of Australian food including oils, margarines, bread, sauces, dips, baby food and dairy products. 

“There are clear grounds for the Federal Health Minister to use her powers to protect public health – the health impacts of GE canola require further examination, and the Office of Gene Technology Regulator, which the Minister oversees, must incorporate biodiversity studies into its assessment of GE crops,” said Ms Sales. “The Health Minister also convenes the Food Regulation Ministerial Council, which needs to review our food labelling laws to remove the loopholes that currently allow GE canola into our foods unlabelled.”