News: South Pacific Rim
» 2009
July 28, 2010
Pesticide levels in NZ food unacceptable – lobbyists
The levels of pesticide residue present in New Zealand fruit and vegetables, shown in a study released yesterday, are the worst ever, say pro-organic food lobby groups.
Read
article in the New Zealand Herald (New Zealand)
Comment: The recent New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) survey reported on in this article revealed that 94 per cent of fruit and vegetable samples contained traces of pesticides, with 11 out of 23 cucumber samples containing residues of the banned chemical endosulfan and 9 out of 24 bok choy samples containing illegal levels of chlorothalonil. Worryingly, therefore, studies carried out in other areas of the world have resulted in similar findings. A report published in the European Union (EU) in 2008, for example, found that fruits, vegetables and cereals sold in the EU now contain record levels of pesticides. Almost half of the fruits, vegetables and cereals examined were found to be contaminated with pesticides, with 23 pesticides being detected at levels high enough to present an acute risk to public health – according to the EU’s own risk calculations.
May 17, 2010
Australian Parents ‘Pimp’ Their Kids For Flu Trial?
A controversy appears to be emerging in Australia over payments made to parents who have enrolled children as young as six months old in H1N1 flu vaccine trials sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline. In some instances, parents were enrolling three children at a time and receiving $900, according to The Herald Sun, which notes the payments may breach national ethical guidelines.
Read article at pharmalot.com
March 2, 2010
Farmers, exporters warn GM animals could damage 'brand New Zealand'
Organic farmers fear "brand New Zealand" will be damaged if plans proceed to expand the range of genetically modified animals. Farmers and exporters told a panel deciding whether to allow Agresearch to put human genes into goats, sheep and cows that overseas customers might stop buying New Zealand products if there were further trials.
Read article in the New Zealand Herald
February 27, 2010
The other drug war - the politics of big business
Big Pharma spends millions every year buying influence in Canberra. Adele Ferguson and Eric Johnston investigate the ruthless tactics, the money and the spindoctors behind the scenes.
Read article in the Sydney Morning Herald (Australia)
February 5, 2010
Australians “uncomfortable” with GM food
Australians remain uneasy about eating genetically modified (GM) foods, according to research from Swinburne University. The University’s fifth National Science and Technology Monitor found most people well informed about GM but still very mistrustful of the institutions that commercialise GM foods. “A major target of public mistrust is Monsanto, the world’s biggest seed company that owns patents on over 90% of all commercial GM soy, corn, canola and cotton crops that are grown,” Gene Ethics director Bob Phelps asserted.
Read article on the Australian Food News website (Australia)
January 9, 2010
Chemical in plastic bottles 'poisoning us'
A leading toxicology scientist believes tighter regulations are needed to prevent chemicals leaking into the human body from common plastic drink bottles and packaging. University of Canterbury professor of toxicology Professor Ian Shaw says it is crucially important to decrease the amount of the chemical BPA from New Zealanders' diets. BPA, which leaches from food and drink containers into the body, has consistently been found in overseas tests in blood, urine and even the amniotic fluid protecting a foetus. Such chemicals are linked to health problems that can include reduced sperm count in men, early puberty in girls and increased incidence of breast and testicular cancers - and countries such as the US, the UK and Canada have become alert to potential risks.
Read article in the New Zealand Herald