Dear Editor,

As consumers we have the right of choice, which is the fourth of eight consumer rights, approved and sanctioned by the United Nations, Consumers International and all consumer organisations in the world.

Beginning in the decade of the 90s, genetically modified organisms have found their way into our foods, animal feeds, vaccines and many products which we use without our knowledge, and without being properly safety assessed.

There has been no known human test carried out on these foods. In fact, most Jamaicans are not aware which foods are genetically modified and which are not.

All the animal-feeding studies done by independent scientists have shown destruction of the animals’ internal organs, large cancerous growth development, infertility, stillbirths and changes in the male testicles. Weaker offspring are produced with higher mortality rates, and after three generations of being fed on the same GMO ration they become infertile.

In Jamaica the injuries and damage which may have occurred and dangers which exist are obscured by our inability to conduct animal and human health surveillance. However, in more developed countries with the means to conduct these health surveys, problems such as cancers, tumours, gastrointestinal illnesses, diabetes – particularly in children – dementia, Alzheimer’s in people aged between 40 and 50, stillbirths, infertility, autism spectrum disorders, cerebral palsy, mental illnesses and others are showing phenomenal increases since 1992.

Allergies and food intolerance, particularly in children, are showing alarming increases in countries like the United States and Canada, which is made more dangerous for an unsuspecting consumer, who may be allergic to fish, but unaware that the tomato he is eating contains fish genes or the genes of any food to which they may be allergic.

We must urge our government to label these foods now, because without labels there will be no traceability, we cannot establish causal linkages if there is damage to our people or the environment, hence no liability, no redress.

Mandatory labelling will provide our people with the ability to make informed choices on what we will eat and give to our children – which is our right.

I’ve started the petition, “The Cabinet of Jamaica: Institute the Mandatory Labelling of Genetically Modified Organisms”. www.change.org/petitions/thecabinet-of-jamaica-institute-the-mandatory-labelling-of-genetically-modified-organisms Let’s all help to get it off the ground.

Carlton Stewart

stewart.carlton@gmail.com