Reuters: French Study Finds Tumors In Rats Fed GM Corn

[Ellis]

Monsanto GM foods...

(Reuters) - Rats fed a lifetime diet of Monsanto's genetically modified corn or exposed to its top-selling weedkiller Roundup suffered tumours and multiple organ damage, according to a French study published on Wednesday.

Although the lead researcher's past record as a critic of the industry may make other experts wary of drawing hasty conclusions, the finding will stoke controversy about the safety of GM crops.

In an unusual move, the research group did not allow reporters to seek outside comment on their paper before its publication in the peer-reviewed journal Food and Chemical Toxicology and presentation at a news conference in London.

Gilles-Eric Seralini of the University of Caen and colleagues said rats fed on a diet containing NK603 - a seed variety made tolerant to dousings of Roundup - or given water containing Roundup at levels permitted in the United States died earlier than those on a standard diet.

The animals on the GM diet suffered mammary tumours, as well as severe liver and kidney damage.

The researchers said 50 percent of males and 70 percent of females died prematurely, compared with only 30 percent and 20 percent in the control group.

Seralini was part of a team that flagged previous safety concerns based on a shorter rat study in a scientific paper published in December 2009 but this takes things a step further by tracking the animals throughout their two-year lifespan.

Monsanto said at the time of the earlier research that the French researchers had reached "unsubstantiated conclusions."

Seralini believes his latest lifetime rat tests give a more realistic and authoritative view of risks than the 90-day feeding trials that form the basis of GM crop approvals, since three months is only the equivalent of early adulthood in rats.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/...8KJAGN20120919

[elkabong82]

sacre bleu!

[Destino]

I can't speak to the validity of the study. I can however note the enormity of the wealth and political power that will attempt make certain that even if such a study were valid that it would never be accepted as such.

[Predicto]

Interesting note: my kids have had 4 female pet rats. Every one of them developed mammary tumors.

I also found this part interesting: "In an unusual move, the research group did not allow reporters to seek outside comment on their paper before its publication in the peer-reviewed journal Food and Chemical Toxicology and presentation at a news conference in London." I wonder why they did that.

Anyhow, I await further developments.

[Corcaigh]

I wasn't clear having read the article ... were all the rats fed Roundup, and some were fed GM corn AND Roundup? Or was there a control group that didn't have either?

[Ellis]

I also found this part interesting: "In an unusual move, the research group did not allow reporters to seek outside comment on their paper before its publication in the peer-reviewed journal Food and Chemical Toxicology and presentation at a news conference in London." I wonder why they did that.

I noticed that too and honestly, I was reluctant to share this article. But I felt that if Reuters was issuing the story, then it was worth sharing.

[ixcuincle]

**** Monsanto.

[China]

Interesting note: my kids have had 4 female pet rats. Every one of them developed mammary tumors.

That's why the first thing I wanted to know was what was the incidence of tumors in the control group. It was apparently significantly less. One other thing to note is that this is a toxicology study. Tox studies are designed to give excessive doses of something to see what the worst-case scenario of effects might be. These rats were fed nothing but the GM corn. If they had a mixed diet with just some corn, what would the results be? I'd like to see a comparison to other feed products, such as other types of corn. I didn't see what the control animals were fed. Also, there isn't always a direct comparability between species. That's why drugs that may work in animal studies don't always work in humans. It would be interesting to see the effects in a species that typically has a corn diet, such as cows. Nevertheless, it's not a good result.

[FrFan]

Interesting note: my kids have had 4 female pet rats. Every one of them developed mammary tumors.

I also found this part interesting: "In an unusual move, the research group did not allow reporters to seek outside comment on their paper before its publication in the peer-reviewed journal Food and Chemical Toxicology and presentation at a news conference in London." I wonder why they did that.

Anyhow, I await further developments.

"This is a health survey that looks like a thriller, with all that entails in secret code names and corpses in closets. Of dead rats in this case. It all began in 2006, when Gilles-Eric Seralini, professor of molecular biology at the University of Caen, almost clandestine launches study on GMOs which pulverize an official truth: that the safety of genetically modified maize. Under the code name Vivo, the research team will conduct this survey to demonstrate the effects heavily toxic and often fatal rats. The results are disclosed by Gilles-Eric Séralini in a book to be published next week ("All guinea pigs!", Flammarion, published September 26) and are already published in the American magazine very serious "Food and Chemical Toxicology ". Detonating revelations, coming after several years of research conducted in the utmost secrecy, where any telephone conversation between researchers was outlawed and where the emails were encrypted. The team first had to collect seeds of GM maize NK 603, owned by Monsanto's patented, with the complicity of Canadian agricultural college before their repatriation in 2007 and transform them into kibble designed to feed 200 rats the laboratory."
Link
They wanted the research to be top secret until the publication.

---------- Post added September-19th-2012 at 10:50 PM ----------

I wasn't clear having read the article ... were all the rats fed Roundup, and some were fed GM corn AND Roundup? Or was there a control group that didn't have either?

" The team first had to collect seeds of GM maize NK 603, owned by Monsanto's patented, with the complicity of Canadian agricultural college before their repatriation in 2007 and transform them into kibble designed to feed 200 rats in the laboratory. "

Monsanto survival would be at stake for a single GMO variety. There are hundreds of varieties, implying at least a dozen studies from 100 to 150 million euros each!

[Koolblue13]

Lowers the IQ of prebrith babies, turns grass into cyanide after long droughts, causes tumors in rats.

Delicious monsanto feed.

[PeterMP]

Here's the abstract:

The health effects of a Roundup-tolerant genetically modified maize (from 11% in the diet), cultivated
with or without Roundup, and Roundup alone (from 0.1 ppb in water), were studied 2 years in rats. In
females, all treated groups died 2–3 times more than controls, and more rapidly. This difference was visible
in 3 male groups fed GMOs. All results were hormone and sex dependent, and the pathological profiles
were comparable. Females developed large mammary tumors almost always more often than and
before controls, the pituitary was the second most disabled organ; the sex hormonal balance was modified
by GMO and Roundup treatments. In treated males, liver congestions and necrosis were 2.5–5.5
times higher. This pathology was confirmed by optic and transmission electron microscopy. Marked
and severe kidney nephropathies were also generally 1.3–2.3 greater. Males presented 4 times more large
palpable tumors than controls which occurred up to 600 days earlier. Biochemistry data confirmed very
significant kidney chronic deficiencies; for all treatments and both sexes, 76% of the altered parameters
were kidney related. These results can be explained by the non linear endocrine-disrupting effects of
Roundup, but also by the overexpression of the transgene in the GMO and its metabolic consequences.

It appears that they are saying that the GMO alone causes an increase in cancer as compared to rats that are feed the closest non-GMO food.

To echo what China said, all sorts of things that NEED are bad at high and regular doses. Most vitamins can cause illnesses.

[Koolblue13]

people act like GMOs are global warming or religion.

[alexey]

I've heard of this Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and it sounds good. Thinking of signing up for the "weekly box" next year.

[Koolblue13]

I've heard of this Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and it sounds good. Thinking of signing up for the "weekly box" next year.

Food grown locally by your neighbor and not covered with poisons are a good way to feel healthy about a lot in life. I'd highly suggest it.

[MissU28]

I hate testing on animals