WHO Director General, Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland, said Tuesday in Harare that currently available evidence showed that genetically modified (GM) foods are "not likely to present human health risk", and that therefore "these foods may be eaten". She said that Southern African countries should consider accepting GM food aid in the face of the humanitarian crisis facing the region.

Dr Brundtland told a meeting of health ministers from ten southern African countries that based on current scientific knowledge and information from a variety of sources, the consumption of foods containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) now being provided as food aid in southern Africa was not likely to present human health risk. "WHO", she said, "is not aware of scientifically documented cases in which the consumption of these foods has had negative human health effects". "These foods may therefore be eaten," she said.

With respect to GM maize and other commodities containing GMOs being offered as food aid, Dr Brundtland said that although WHO and FAO had not undertaken any formal assessment of GM foods, the two organizations were confident that the principal country of origin had applied established national food safety risk assessment procedures.

"We know, for example, that GM foods are eaten by people in other Regions: these foods are no less safe for people here in Africa than they are for people who eat them in other parts of the world," she said.

Dr Brundtland however added that the ultimate responsibility and decision regarding the acceptance and distribution of food aid containing GMOs rested with the governments concerned. "The WHO", she said, "believes that in the current crisis, governments of countries in southern Africa must consider carefully the severe and immediate consequences of limiting the food aid that is made available for the millions of peopleso desperately in need".

The three-day meeting which is examining the health sector response to the acute and large-scale humanitarian crisis facing Southern Africa is being attended by Ministers or Deputy Ministers of Health from Angola, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, and Zimbabwe, the Deputy Minister of Local Government from Botswana, and the personal representative of the Minister of Health from Malawi, together with the Executive Director of UNICEF, and representatives of concerned national and international organisations. 

For further information, please contact

Youcef Ait-Chellouche,
Emergency and Humanitarian Action Unit 
Tel: + 1 321 953 9314; 
Email: chellouchey [at] afro.who.int

Samuel T. Ajibola,
Public Information and Communication Unit 
World Health Organization - Regional Office for Africa 
P.O. Box 6 Brazzville, Congo. 
E-mail: ajibolas [at] afro.who.int
Tel: 1 321 953 9378; 
Fax: 1 321 953 9513 
From 26 - 28 August in Harare: 091 321 405