When chickens refused to eat the maize they were fed it was discovered that their feed had been genetically modified to include a weed and insect killer.

Dawid Klopper, head gardener at Brenthurst family estate, informed Strille Oppenheimer that her indigenous African chickens refused to eat the maize in their chicken feed.  Concerned, Oppenheimer instructed Klopper to have the maize tested and to change the chickens’ diet to include organic vegetables.  They also stopped eating the chickens’ eggs.

The maize was sent to the GMO testing facility at the University of the Free State for analysis to test if the maize had been genetically modified.

Oppenheimer’s concerns were confirmed as results showed that the maize had been genetically engineered to produce proteins that are toxic to certain insects and weeds.

A GM expert said, “It contained BTI which makes the maize insect resistant, as well as Roundup which makes it weed resistant.”

The cumulative effect of the GM feed, not only on the chickens but also on the eggs they produced for the family, is unknown.

“This is of serious concern.  Do you know that 96 percent of soya based foods are genetically modified and that maize in South Africa is contaminated, “ said Oppenheimer who pointed out that Dr Arpad Pusztai, a well-known scientist had shown that when rats were fed on GM potatoes they suffered from weak immune systems and stunted growth of internal organs that included the liver, kidneys and brain.

The Rowett Research Institute in the UK fired Pusztai in 1998 after his findings from his research into the human nutritional consequences of GM threatened to have far-reaching implications for the biotech industry which maintained that GM crops and product would not affect human health adversely.

Certain types of genetic engineering and cancer have been shown to have a direct link according to international research.

International research has also shown that milk, eggs and meat from GM-fed animals contained GM crop DNA indicating that people were frequently exposed to GM DNA.

Acting director of Biowatch, Rose Williams stated that, “There has been no testing on humans, very limited testing on animals and very little research on environmental impacts.  This is the case globally, but in South Africa even less work has been done, even though the commercial release of GM maize, GM soya and GM cotton has been approved.”

While the labelling of GM foods has been called for by the recently implemented Consumer Protection Act, the regulations linked to the measure have yet to be finalised.

Oppenheimer says she has smart chickens!