Adelaide , South Australia :
Public Health - SAGFIN, South
Australia
Welcome to SAGFIN
South Australia’s Genetic Food Information
Network
About Us GE Foods What Can
I Do? Newsletter News
Links Contacts
SAGFIN is a non-profit community organisation
established in 1998 to collect and distribute information on all aspects of
gene technology, with a particular focus on genetically engineered foods and
crops. It also acts as an advocate for community concerns and food and
environmental safety. SAGFIN has achieved these goals through activities
such as: hosting and arranging public meetings, issuing press releases, media
interviews, and writing multiple submissions and information pamphlets. It also
collaborates with other groups with interests in GE issues.
GE & GM Foods
Genetically Engineered foods, ingredients and
processing aids are produced from plants, animals or micro-organisms which have
been artificially altered to contain new, commercially advantageous genes.
These genes mean that some aspect of the host is now significantly different
from its conventional form, an example is a plant which will no longer die when
sprayed with weed-killer. These new genes could not be incorporated by
traditional breeding, and can come from a range of sources such as viruses,
bacteria, non-food plants, animals or even humans. Genetically Engineered, GE,
foods are also known as Genetically Modified, GM, foods.
The
novel and powerful nature of this technology means that it presents new risks
to human health and the environment. Here's a summary of our views on the safety risks of genetically engineered crops and
here’s our NEW FACTS SHEET.
The case against GE
food is very well summarised by Dave Abbott on the New Doctor website. The
article ranges from ethical and political issues to the health and
environmental concerns including some historical mishaps with the technology.
To
date
Genetically
engineered foods were initially approved as safe by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration as a result of a political directive which overrode the warnings
of the FDA's own experts that they pose specific health risks. These warnings
were subsequently denied and covered up by the FDA. See www.bio-integrity.org.
What Can I Do?
There are lots of ways to make a difference. The most
practical way to express your choice is when you buy food. It is the way that
the industry listens to and is already being very effective around the
world. A detailed and practical shopping guide for
Our
politicians have a duty to represent us in the government, so let them know
what you think. It's best to visit the local member's office if you have time.
You also might consider writing to the relevant health and agriculture
ministers. Here's some SA
Parliament contact details. Government agencies invite public comment from time to time. Some are in
the process of considering GE licensing applications, like the Office
of the Gene Technology Regulator, while others have, in part, a public relations
role.
For other issues see the newsletters and the news archive,.
Consider helping an
organisation like ours to raise public awareness of the issues. Anyone can join
SAGFIN. Just email us!
Or maybe you, your friends of customers would like some of our GM Free
merchandise....
Our Newsletter
SAGFIN publishes an informative newsletter of special
interest to South Australians. If you join we’ll post a copy to you every
quarter. Alternately, read it online by following the links below.
GE FOOD NEWS No. 26 -
June 2008
GE FOOD NEWS No. 25 -
March 2007
GE FOOD NEWS No. 24 -
December 2007
GE FOOD NEWS No. 23 -
September 2007
GE FOOD NEWS No. 22 -
June 2007
GE FOOD NEWS No. 21 -
March 2007
GE FOOD NEWS No. 20 -
December 2006
GE FOOD NEWS No. 19 -
September 2006
GE FOOD NEWS No. 18 -
June 2006
GE FOOD NEWS No. 17 -
March 2006
GE FOOD NEWS No. 16 -
December 2005
GE FOOD NEWS No. 15 -
September 2005
GE FOOD NEWS No. 14 -
June 2005
GE FOOD NEWS No. 13 -
March 2005
SAGFIN NEWS No. 12 -
December 2004
SAGFIN NEWS No. 11 -
September 2004
SAGFIN NEWS
No. 10 - June 2004
SAGFIN NEWS
No. 9 - March 2004
SAGFIN
NEWS No. 8 - December 2003
SAGFIN
NEWS No. 7 - September 2003
SAGFIN
NEWS No. 6 - May 2003.
SAGFIN
NEWS No. 5 - November 2002.
SAGFIN
NEWS No. 4 - August 2002.
SAGFIN
NEWS No. 3 - May 2002
Other related newsletters that
might be of interest are:
The Network
of Concerned Farmers, April 2003
News Archive
Links
Have a look at our links page. It is a collection of
interesting material on the subject of GE & GM food.
Disclaimer: The views expressed there, and at other linked sites, are not
necessarily those of SAGFIN.
Contacts
If you'd like to learn more, or be more actively
involved, please send us an email
or join up !
Updated 3 July
2008