Warning about the Role of Genetically Modified Products in Increasing Alzheimer’s and Diabetes

The Deputy of the Research Office of the Environmental Protection Organization of Iran states that soy, corn, and potato 'concentrate' products in the country are 'genetically modified' and have a significant effect on the growth of diseases such as autism, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are those that have been genetically altered. In the technology of producing GMOs, one or more genes are added to or removed from the natural genome of the organism. GMOs are essentially foods that have been genetically modified to receive a new and desirable gene from other organisms. According to the Tasnim news agency, Davood Hayat-Ghaib, the Deputy of the Environmental Protection Organization, on Wednesday, December 15, called for an 'assessment of the risks [of consuming] genetically modified products' in Iran for humans as well as livestock and poultry during a training workshop. He referred to the importation of 'genetically modified' corn from Argentina to Iran in 2003 and stated that this issue became clear after Iran acquired scientific knowledge and expert equipment in 2006. This official added, 'The same Mexican corn that our people consume is the genetically modified Argentine corn, which unfortunately we had the ability to recognize this important issue for many years, but it was not acted upon.' He stated that so far in Iran, 'safe use of genetically modified products' has not been a concern for officials and the public, saying, 'Consumers should be aware of the labeling and percentage on genetically modified products.' Mr. Hayat-Ghaib also reported that 'for years we have been consumers of genetically modified products without any labeling; currently, this labeling is only done on a few liquid oils.' In another part of his speech, the Deputy of the Research Office of the Environmental Protection Organization declared cotton and canola products as 'genetically modified' and said that 'the percentage of genetic modification in products produced from them should be labeled.' According to Hayat-Ghaib, 'According to American research, after the release of genetically modified products, diseases such as autism, Alzheimer’s, gastrointestinal disorders, obesity, and diabetes have significantly increased.' He added, 'In 38 countries around the world, the cultivation of genetically modified products has been banned because if they cultivate it, they must also conduct research, which will be costly and time-consuming for them.' These products can include a wide range of foods from various fruits and vegetables to meats, legumes, grains, dairy products, and more. The use of genetically modified products in Iran has long sparked numerous debates both for and against. Hossein Rastgar, head of the Food and Drug Organization Research Institute, is one of the proponents of using these products and has stated that if the new genetic technology is approached logically, 'it will yield good results.' According to IRNA, Mr. Rastgar said on Wednesday at the international conference 'Genetically Modified Products and Public Awareness' that 'the import license for genetically modified soybean oil and corn has been granted by the Food and Drug Organization.' He also announced, 'Currently, genetically modified cotton has also received initial approval from the Ministry of Agriculture and is under review by the biosafety committee of the Food and Drug Organization.' This official added, 'Currently, 90% of soybean oil in the world is genetically modified, and to buy 10% of non-genetically modified oil, we have to pay six times more, which is not rational.' Abbas Papi-Zadeh, a member of the Agricultural Commission of the Parliament, also stated on December 13 that 'the prohibition of the production, import, and consumption of genetically modified products has been approved in the Joint Commission of the Parliament and will be presented in the open session of the Parliament.' Papi-Zadeh announced that 'currently, 10 to 15 million tons of genetically modified products are imported into the country annually,' adding that these products 'cause allergies and health issues in humans.'