Controversy over Ventria trials in Peru worsens (13/7/2006)

EXCERPT: The AMP [Peruvian Medical Association] considered the Health Ministry committed a serious illegal act and has denounced the case to the provincial district attorney's office, alleging a violation of those children's rights.

COMMENT: The Health Minister's denial - see below - is specious. They're using a transgenic protein in these trials so when the Minister says, "Let us make that absolutely clear. The children participating in this research have not received transgenic rice," what she's really saying is that the transgenic (pharmaceutical) component in the rice has been extracted and then fed (via a beverage) to the children!

That's not making it clear. That's hiding the truth.
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Peru Medical Treatment Sparks Polemic
Prensa Latina (Latin American News Agency)
http://www.plenglish.com/Article.asp?ID=%7B0B048D08-1406-41F9-8F88-3DF9CFFD4A2B%7D&language=EN

Lima, Jul 12 (Prensa Latina) A controversy regarding the use of transgenic rice to feed Peruvian children worsened Wednesday following Health Minister Pilar Mazzetti's denial she authorized such tests of the product.

Mazzetti rejected the idea that the genetically manipulated product was given to 140 dehydrated children and described the denunciation issued by the Peruvian Medical Association (AMP) this week as "ridiculous".

"Let us make that absolutely clear. The children participating in this research have not received transgenic rice," the minister declared.

She said what they used was a beverage made with common rice to which they added proteins similar to those in mother's milk, and that was fed to children hospitalized in the Institute for Children Health in Lima and Belen Institute in the northern city of Trujillo.

The AMP considered the Health Ministry committed a serious illegal act and has denounced the case to the provincial district attorney's office, alleging a violation of those children’s rights.


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