The food industry in Israel favors the use of genetically modified products
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The food industry in Israel favors the use of genetically modified products - this is what the chairman of the food division of the manufacturers' association, Gazi Kaplan, said this week. According to him, the technology makes it possible to increase the level of nutrients in food, reduce pesticides, improve the resistance of plants against pests and improve food products. Kaplan added, against the background of the differences of opinion in the world regarding the health effects of genetically modified food products, that processed food products containing genetically modified ingredients must be labeled.
The Ministry of Health (after coordination between the representatives of the Ministry, the farmers, the industrialists and the consumers) decided to approve the sale of genetically modified food provided that it is labeled as such. In order to speed up its entry into force as a regulation, the ministry decided to bring it to the Finance Committee in the Knesset Plenum for approval. The Ministry of Health estimated that the installation will be implemented by the end of the year.
Genetically modified food contains crops whose genetic composition is different. This change is usually done by inserting genes from animals, bacteria or viruses. The Hindus are designed to serve several purposes, including improving the resistance of the seeds to pests (while reducing the use of toxic pesticides during cultivation), improving the taste of the vegetable and extending its shelf life. A more advanced development will allow the marketing of food that includes vaccines against diseases, such as jaundice, polio and otitis media.
In Israel, experiments are being conducted in the genetic engineering of plants, such as wheat, alfalfa, melon, zucchini, tomato, tobacco and cotton. Most of the field experiments are carried out by academic researchers and some by business companies. Companies involved in seed development in Israel are also based on genetic engineering.
The controversy regarding product labeling and its effect on health also weighs on economic interests. The producers of the pesticides will be financially damaged as a result of the expansion of the use of genetically modified food.
In the world there is a sharp dispute, mainly between Europe and North America, on the question of the labeling of genetically modified food and its effect on the health of consumers. As far as is known, its negative effect on health has not been proven, but this may be due to the young age of the field.
The United States is the leading country in the world in the field of genetic crops. Half of the soybeans and a third of the corn crops in the United States have undergone genetic engineering. According to estimates, some of the soy imported to Israel has been genetically engineered to improve its resistance to pests.
In Europe, there is a demand for genetically modified food labeling, which stems from the public's reservations on the matter. Apparently there is another reason and that is the trade struggle between Europe and the United States, and the desire in Europe to create a trade barrier - which will make it difficult for American exports.
{Appeared in Haaretz newspaper, 21/5/2000}
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