| GE Free
New Zealand in Food & Environment, 17th December
2005
Kellogg's "New Oil" A Turn-off at Breakfast
The announcement by Kellogg's that they will use Monsanto's 'nutritionally
altered', low linoleic soybean oil (Vistive) is a major consumer turn-off
and a risk to health.
Use of the new oil, which is understood to be genetically engineered (GE),
should not be allowed until the complex effects on people's health have been
fully researched.
Kellogg's move does not benefit consumers, but could be a way to avoid
consumers knowing the levels of trans fatty acids in their products.The use
of low linoleic GE soy bean oil as an alternative to trans fatty acids may
indicate that the company is afraid of new labelling requirements for trans
fatty acids which come into force in January.
Under food regulations most GE-derived oils do not have to be labelled by
manufacturers. There is concern that manufacturers like Kellogg's may be
able to use nutritionally deficient and GE soy oils in their products
without declaring the fact, as they attempt to move away from trans fatty
acids.
"Such use of oils which have had essential nutritional properties altered
could lead to deficiency syndromes and malnutrition, with the potential to
become a major health problem contributing to future diseases," says Claire
Bleakley of GE Free (NZ) in food and environment.
"We urge Kellogg's against taking such a risk, and doing their customers a
disservice. When food is nutritionally deficient our natural defence systems
become highly susceptible to foreign invasion by viral and bacterial
diseases. Research into these effects needs to be done and the concept fully
safety-tested before even being considered for use in common foods like
breakfast cereal."
Linoelic Acid is known as an Omega 3 essential fatty acid. It is a
polyunsaturated fat that cannot be manufactured in the body and is therefore
essential in the daily diet. Essential Fatty Acids (EFA) serve as the
precursors for prostoglandins and other hormones, associated with blood
clotting and inflammation. They are also the building blocks of the body's cell membranes and involved in the formation of cell walls, making them
supple and flexible, improving circulation, and having protective effects in
relation to cancer.
But low Linoleic acid Omega-3 in the diet can cause deficiencies that are
linked to a range of diseases and medical problems. These include: decreased
memory and mental abilities, tingling sensation of the nerves, poor vision,
increased tendency to form blood clots, diminished immune function,
increased triglycerides and "bad" cholesterol (LDL) levels, impaired
membrane function, hypertension, irregular heart beat, learning disorders,
menopausal discomfort, and growth retardation in infants, children, and
pregnant women, reduced growth rates, infertility, skin scaliness, kidney
abnormalities, abnormal liver function, decreased immune function, decreased
myocardial contractility and decreased prostaglandin production.
Rich sources of linolenic acid are cold water fish, soybeans, flaxseed,
canola oil, pumpkin and walnuts.
"Kellogg's admission that their products contain high levels of trans fatty
acids indicates that consumers may have been mislead by health- messages in
advertising of their brands. But any plan to start using untested GE oils
will only put consumers at further risk and should stop now."
ENDS:
Claire Bleakley (06) 3089842
References:
Kellogg teams up with Monsanto to reduce trans fats By Lorraine Heller
Conjugated linoleic acid suppresses mammary carcinogenesis and proliferative
activity of the mammary gland in the rat. CANCER RES. (USA) , 1994, 54/5
(1212-1215)
Feeding conjugated linoleic acid to animals partially overcomes catabolic
responses due to endotoxin injection, BIOCHEM. BIOPHYS. RES. COMMUN. (USA),
1994, 198/3 (107-1112)
http://www.lef.org/prod_hp/abstracts/php-ab153.html
http://www.mezomorf.com/health/news-15569.html
Omega-3 (Linolenic Acid) http://www.healthlinks.com/archive/fats.html
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