05/15/06 -
1,820 Sheep die grazing GE cotton land
1820 Sheep died grazing on the harvested GE cotton land. Even wearing GE Cotton
could cause terrible skin reactions". The latest studies on GE Cotton farming
have raised grave concerns about the safety of GE cotton which is widely used in
food as well as in clothing. A preliminary report released in late April has
found that thousands of sheep died after grazing on land where GE cotton had
been grown. The sheep and goats started dying after seven days of continuously
grazing on tender leaves and pods of Bt cotton that remaind in the fields after
picking. "After 10 years, we still have no diagnostic tools to assess possible
reactions to GE food", says Claire Bleakley of GE Free (NZ) in food and
Environment, "GE cotton should be properly tested on animals and humans for
safety, but so far it has not." In December a three month study was released
which found that workers picking GE cotton suffered severe skin reactions with
itching and blistery eruptions leaving a black skin discolouration which was
still apparent after 5 months. "The dangers of GE organisms in the food chain
and the environment are becoming apparent. All government agencies and
commercial interests must take these warnings seriously before it is too late",
says Ms Bleakley.