Who's taking care of us?

2001

A German company called Bayer creates a strain of genetically modified rice called LLRice160, or Liberty Link® rice, at the Agricultural Centre of Louisiana State University in the U.S. This super-tough designer rice is engineered to survive Bayers Liberty® herbicide glufosinate, which will kill everything else living in the same field (animal, vegetable and mineral) virtually stripping it sterile.

2001-2006
In typical, predictable GMO fashion, LLRice160 spreads to other crops either because it is unmonitored, or because it is unstoppable.

August 2006

It became apparent that the United States rice crop had been devastatingly contaminated with LLRice160 as undisclosed amounts were found in commercial rice supplies. According to Greenpeace, 63% of exports were affected by the contamination, and the illegal rice was found in over 30 countries. Approximately 100 varieties of rice produced primarily in the following six states: Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and California. It is estimated that the US rice crop is valued at approximately $1.88 billion annually (wikipedia).

Later that month
UK Food Standards Agency releases an emergency brief;
EU EMERGENCY MEASURES regarding the presence of non-authorized genetically modified organism LLRice160 in rice products from the United States

The European Commission has adopted Commission Decision 2006/578/EC on 23 August 2006 which sets out emergency measures applying to rice products from the United States of America. The Decision takes effect immediately .….. Consignments found to contain GM rice LL RICE 601 should be refused entry to the EU

September, 2006
The Food Standards Agency Director of Food Safety Dr. Andrew Wadge said, "The presence of this GM material in rice on sale in the UK is illegal under European food law, even at extremely low levels. This is why we are taking steps to test American long grain rice and ensure future imports are GM free."

November 2006
GM rice removed from the shelves of UK Tesco stores landed in Poland Tesco stores?
According to Polish Chief Health Inspectorate GM rice of variety LL601 was found in 6% (3 out of 48) of samples taken in the Tesco stores of three regions of Poland: Pomerania, West Pomerania and Lower Silesia. The contaminated rice came to Poland from US via France. This situation creates fears that the affected rice, removed from the shelves of the stores in Western Europe, ended in the shelves of the same companies in countries like Poland. Tesco Poland, asked by Greenpeace about GM rice, answered in writing that Tesco's own name rice is GMO free and refused to answer similar question concerning other producers on Tesco shelves.

February 2007
High Court: UK Food Standards Agency Made GM Rice Mistakes
High Court Judge has ruled that the UK Food Standards Agency did not act unlawfully by allowing genetically modified rice unapproved for human consumption to remain on the shelves of major grocery chains across Great Britain. In a judicial review requested by Friends of the Earth, the judge did fault the agency for a number of mistakes, including its decision not to issue a food alert and the late provision of advice to local authorities. In his ruling Thursday, the judge also said that public authorities such as the Food Standards Agency should be allowed to make mistakes without attracting legal sanction.

December 2007 (16 months after the EU ban)
Rice on Canadian store shelves contaminated - Government fails to detect illegal, genetically engineered variety MONTREAL and VANCOUVER, Dec. 17 /CNW Telbec

An independent investigation by Greenpeace has found rice sold in Canadian supermarkets to be contaminated with an experimental, genetically engineered variety accidentally released into the environment. Greenpeace is demanding that all long grain rice imported from the United States be removed from store shelves in Canada after independent testing confirmed that rice purchased at two supermarkets in Vancouver and Montreal was contaminated with a variety of genetically engineered rice not approved for human consumption by Health Canada

- No Name brand, long grain white rice, imported by Loblaws, product code 166J2, bar code, 60383 00833.
- Western Family brand, imported by Overwaitea, best before date: 09 07 16, bar code 62639 17323