This letter to the journal Nature outlines the safety risk of antibiotic resistance due to horizontal gene transfer from GMOs and points out that this is not the only risk that needs to be urgently addressed by the authorities. ------ Ampicillin threat leads to wider transgene concern Sir: We are concerned by the suggestion, in your Editorial "Don't rely on Uncle Sam" (Nature 434, 807; 2005), that the US Food and Drug Administration does not consider the presence of the ampicillin-resistance gene in Syngenta's unapproved variety of genetically modified Bt10 maize to represent a safety problem. This is not the view of the UK government's scientific advisers (the DEFRA Antimicrobial Resistance Coordination Group), who state that some important veterinary pathogens remain susceptible to ampicillin (K. L. Goodyear et al. J. Antimicrob. Chemother. 54, 959; 2004). They state that there is "extremely low or no detected resistance in certain bacterial species", so that "any occasional transfer of resistance genes to these organisms would be a very significant event". If, as a result of such horizontal gene transfer, it became necessary to use more modern antimicrobials to treat animal disease, they write, "then there could be significant consequences for the consumer through the food chain". The risk of horizontal gene transfer from genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is not a theoretical one. One study found that, after Bt genes in plasmid form were incubated in the saliva in a sheep's mouth for a few minutes, they could still transform Escherichia coli bacteria so that they developed antibiotic resistance (P. S. Duggan et al. Br. J. Nutr. 89, 159$B!](B166; 2003). In addition, it is worth noting that the ampicillin-resistance gene in Bt10 maize and other genetically modified crops is a remnant of the bacterial plasmid inserted into these varieties, and would therefore function very efficiently if taken up by bacteria as a result of horizontal gene transfer. Once the Bt10 maize incident has been dealt with, we feel there should be a review of the general question of horizontal gene transfer from GMOs. There is no reason to believe that any health implications are confined to antibiotic-resistance marker genes; they could, for example, equally apply to the inserted Bt toxin genes present in all genetically modified Bt crops. However, the transfer of antibiotic resistance is the only such risk currently being addressed by the authorities that regulate GMOs. We consider that the case-by-case approval approach used by the authorities does not adequately address such problems, which are common to all GMOs. Gundula Azeez Soil Association, 40-56 Victoria Street, Bristol BS1 6BY, UK

loves2cook, I'm far from self sufficient as far as food goes. I still buy cheese, butter, milk, but I get them from a locally owned hormone and antibiotic free certified dairy. I do buy some imported produce, although I try to buy what's closest in terms of having it shipped because the quality is so much better. I made some mango/lime sorbet for Easter dessert and neither of those things are grown anywhere near here, although I did use Pioneer sugar from here in Michigan. I refuse to buy store tomatoes anymore since reading the latest article in Gourmet (or was it Bon Appetit?) about the slave labor used in the tomato industry. However, if I only bought what was grown locally I'd never have a salad from September to May unless I build myself a greenhouse. Hmmmm.......anyway, I digress. I don't grow dried beans or lentils, they are too labor intensive for the crop I get. I haven't yet grown my own grains for grinding into flour and nearly all my mustard comes from Canada (thanks, Chase!). However, I dn't expect the government to keep me safe and I don't believe in better living through chemicals. I do what it's possible for me to do, take a little extra time and effort, and I have a lot more control over what I'm eating and what I'm feeding to my grandkids. Lou, don't worry about having the thread pulled, I don't think anyone minds at all. That's why we all jumped in on this. As for China, if I pick anything up on the shelf, from a bowl to a bottle of honey, and look at the label and it's from China, I put it back. I've saved a lot of money and found that I don't really need a lot of the things I've considered buying! So, in the end, that's a good thing. (grin) Annie

I can't see the pictures here at work, I've got to remember to check them tonight at home. The dinner sounds delicious and I'm sure will look every bit as good as it sounds. Congratulations on a job well done. So SWMBO was suitably surprised and good for the daughter, to allow that the soup wasn't totally "icky", LOL. Annie

Sorry to hear this latest update. I hope you are both feeling better very soon. Just wanted to add that I enjoyed reading your travel log. I agree that the constant moving around and changing hotels is not relaxing in the least. It's why I never want to do tours. I much prefer to plan ahead and do our own thing, or don't plan ahead and do what we want each day. Pret a Manger is the best! I got my lunch from them every day for many years when I was working in New York City. And when DS was playing a baseball game that evening, I would pick up sandwiches on my way home so we could eat at the fields. Very enjoyable. When same son was in college, there was one in the lobby of his apartment building. I would encourage him to get food from there but in the 4 years he lived in that building he never did. Kids are weird!