Energy Efficiency

In a study released by the International Journal of Biological Sciences, analyzing the effects of genetically modified foods on mammalian health, researchers found that agricultural giant Monsanto’s GM corn is linked to organ damage in rats.

As you are probably aware, rats are used in trials of most foods. In this study, three varieties of Monsanto’s GM corn – Mon 863, insecticide-producing Mon 810, and Roundup® herbicide-absorbing NK 603 – were approved for consumption by US, European and several other national food safety authorities.  

Monsanto used its own crude statistical data after conducting a 90-day study, even though chronic problems can rarely be found and attributed after 90 days; and they concluded that the corn was safe for consumption.

However, at the conclusion of the IJBS study, researchers wrote: ‘effects were mostly concentrated in kidney and liver function, the two major diet detoxification organs, but in detail differed with each GM type.

In addition, some effects on heart, adrenal, spleen and blood cells were also frequently noted. As there normally exists sex differences in liver and kidney metabolism, the highly statistically significant disturbances in the function of these organs, seen between male and female rats, cannot be dismissed as biologically insignificant as has been proposed by others.

We therefore conclude that our data strongly suggests that these GM maize varieties induce a state of hepatorenal toxicity….and these substances have never before been an integral part of the human or animal diet and therefore their health consequences for those who consume them, especially over long time periods are currently unknown’.

Monsanto immediately responded to the study, stating that the research was ‘based on faulty analytical methods and reasoning and do not call into question the safety findings for these products’. So although their research showed problems, they claim kidney and liver toxicifications are of no concern.

The IJBS study’s author Gilles-Eric Séralini responded to the Monsanto statement on the blog, Food Freedom, ‘our study contradicts Monsanto conclusions because Monsanto systematically neglects significant health effects in mammals that are different in males and females eating GMOs, or not proportional to the dose; this is a very serious mistake (sic) and dramatic for public health; this is the major conclusion revealed by our work, resulting only from careful re-analysis of Monsanto crude statistical data’.

Related blogs: Jennifer Grayson: Eco Etiquette: How Can I Avoid Genetically Modified Foods?; Ban Genetically Engineered Hormonal rBGH Milk; Meat Adulterated With Sex Hormones; GMO Corn; Gmos; International Journal Of Biological Sciences; Monsanto and Monsanto Corn Organ Damage; Monsanto Gm Corn; Monsanto Gmo Corn; National Food Safety; The Global Report, Twilight Earth and the University Of Caen