Now, imagine tomatoes, which are genetically modified with the gene of a pig. This has sparked a global campaign against genetically modified (GM) foods. Uttar Pradesh, too, has been engulfed in the campaign — “I am no lab rat”.

With over 9,000 school and college students from Lucknow having become a part of the campaign in the last one month, the campaign moved to the remote areas of the state through extensive signature and awareness campaigns.

Speaking about the campaign, Utkarsh Kumar Sinha, Director of Centre for Contemporary Studies and Research, which is initiating this campaign, said: “GM foods will slowly be entering our lives. BT Brinjal, which is genetically modified with an animal gene, is likely to be approved by the Centre. The other food items whose trials are being conducted include ladyfinger, cauliflower, cabbage, potato and corn.”

The campaign brings to limelight the fact that human beings are not ready to be used for such tests and strongly oppose the consumption of such products. “Imagine eating a tomato with a pig’s gene, a potato with a scorpion’s gene, a ladyfinger with a cow’s gene and so on,” said Sinha.

“There have been reports of a popular international wafers brand using GM potatoes. Modifying may add to the nutrition value of the vegetable. But the interchange of the two different families of the gene — plants and animals — has resulted in the increase in allergies among human beings, especially children,” added Sinha.

After schools and colleges, the campaign has reached the cinema halls too. “We have spoken to the entertainment tax commissioner. While slides on awareness against GM foods are already running in cinema halls across the city, we will be doing the same in all the halls across the state,” said Dr Anupam Pandey, coordinator of the campaign.