U.S. Environmental Protection Agency officials told a Maui County Council committee they haven’t heard of any health issues related to eating genetically engineered rainbow papaya. Eating rainbow papaya is the same as eating a papaya with a virus, which is a “common occurrence,” Chris Wozniak, an EPA biotechnology special assistant, told the committee.
A Maui doctor countered there could still be risks, The Maui News reported. Dr. Lorrin Pang said that just because it occurs naturally doesn’t make it safe.
The committee is reviewing a voter-initiated measure that would place a moratorium on the cultivation of genetically modified organisms in Maui County until the activity is shown to be safe. The committee heard from officials with the EPA and state departments of agriculture and health. Experts who spoke — with the exception of Pang — didn’t pinpoint any health problems related to GMOs or any compliance issues with Maui County seed companies.
Hawaii economist Paul Brewbaker questioned the need for an initiative that would shut down an industry to conduct studies. He was in favor of studies but not the moratorium.
Read the full, original article: EPA official tells Maui council no health issues from eating genetically engineered papaya
