Genetically modified food could contain excessive amounts of dangerous compounds because of the government’s failure to adequately regulate the production of such foods, according to a report being released today by the Center for Science in the Public Interest. The report says the Food and Drug Administration made “obvious errors” in reviewing some GM crops, and that its procedures are so hit-or-miss that the agency will not be able to ensure the safety of the U.S. food supply as more and more companies try to market transgenic foods. The report was timed to coincide with today’s meeting in Washington, D.C., of a panel of the National Academy of Sciences charged with investigating the potential impact of GM crops on human nutrition. Some experts fear that “anti-nutrients,” or harmful compounds found in trace levels in many food crops, could appear in higher concentrations in genetically altered crops. The FDA has not established clear guidelines for testing for anti-nutrients in GM foods, according to CSPI.
