'Femi Stephen
Jul 10, 2017 · 2 min read

Dear Mr. Okelue,

This is the first time I’m reading your blogs/posts. I got attracted because it delved into my disciple — Food Safety. My “unsolicited” advise to you today is that when you interview any scientist, however eminent s/he may be, please try to balance the opinion.

1. The safety of GMOs, the world is not a Laboratory bubble, there are so many reasons that you have to consider before accepting GMOs as safe or unsafe. This is an issue that scientist have debated for the last 3 decades and there hasn’t been any sufficient scientific research that says GMOs cause Cancer or liver/kidney damage.

2. The Nigeria Academy of Science cannot do research on every type of GM Foods or GM Organisms and they are not the certified body to do so. This is because GM foods are not just one entity, it involves so many protein permutations on so many food types. It is the idea of GMOs that are either approved or disapproved. Each GM Crop/Food is then individually tested and then approved by the Nigeria BioSafety Agency in collaboration with NAFDAC and the Ministries of Agriculture & Health for as long as possible before they can be approved for commercialization. this process is also done by the United States FDA. FYI, there are functional and internationally accredited biosafety laboratories in Nigeria to identify issues with GM Foods.

3. Lastly, and as written, the banned food produce by the European Union is because of excess pesticide residue found on the food produce. However, this excessive pesticide spraying has been known to be done to preserve food produce by preventing pest infestation and they are only used that way for exported produce because of the extra time they stay in storage. So Nigerians have not been eating 460 times above lethal level but certainly not the expected level.

Cheers,

‘Femi Stephen

    'Femi Stephen

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    All about Food Safety, Arsenal and well...Nigeria