19 février 2004 07:17
Genetically modified pigs on the Quebec market
Isabelle Hontebeyrie
In a press release, Greenpeace announced
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| Photo: Ian Britton |
it had learned that three genetically engineered (GE) pigs had been released into the food chain, although these animals have never been tested for human safety.
The animals were genetically engineered as part of a program to produce pharmaceutical proteins.
The environmental group says that this is a major breach of Canada's food safety system, and is just the latest in a string of violations related to GE organisms.
According to information released by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the three pigs were released by the Quebec-based research company TGN Biotech Inc. to a rendering plant in Quebec and from there further distributed to feed mills and farms in Quebec and Ontario. Such releases are currently illegal. This is the second time in two years that genetically engineered pigs have entered the animal feed supply. On the previous occasion, eleven genetically engineered pigs from the University of Guelph were fed to chickens in Southern Ontario. It is still unclear if an investigation by Environment Canada led to a prosecution or penalty. "Two years ago it was eleven genetically engineered pigs. Before that it was imported 'Starlink' corn. Before that it was milk from cows treated with GE growth hormone- who knows what it will be next time," told Greenpeace campaigner Pat Venditti.
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