French Government To Review Study Linking Monsanto Corn & Cancer
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France’s National Agency for Health Safety has been ordered by the government to investigate claims made by a study this week linking Monsanto’s NK603 genetically modified (GM) corn to cancer in rats, reported AFP on Thursday.
France’s National Agency for Health Safety has been ordered by the government to investigate claims made by a study this week linking Monsanto’s NK603 genetically modified (GM) corn to cancer in rats, reported AFP on Thursday.
According to Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, the French government was prepared to seek an immediate EU ban on imports of the NK603 corn, if its own review validated a study made by scientists at the University of Caen, which saw rats developing tumours and other severe diseases within two years from eating the corn.
In addition, French authorities also said they may call for an overhaul in how the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) conduct scientific experiments, especially since the European Union’s top food safety watchdog had approved the NK603 corn in the first place.
“If the results are confirmed (agriculture minister) Stephane Le Foll will seek a European ban on these GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms),” said Ayrault to AFP.
[quote]“I’ve demanded a rapid procedure, in the order of a few weeks, which will allow us to establish the scientific validity of this study,” he added.[/quote]Related: China To Investigate Report Of GM Rice Experiment On Children
Related: EU May Order France To Overturn Monsanto Ban
The study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Food and Chemical Toxicology, was the first to ever examine the impact of GM food on rats over their normal lifespan, rather than the standard-required 90-day study.
Scientists found that premature death and tumours were far higher among rats fed with the NK603 corn, compared to a control group, while “by the beginning of the 24th month, 50-80 percent of female animals had developed tumours in all treated groups, with up to three tumours per animal, whereas only 30 percent of controls were affected.”
The study also found that rats exposed to Monsanto’s “Roundup” weedkiller also exhibited more disease symptoms than the test group.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the researchers recommended conducting more studies to evaluate toxic effects of genetically modified crops on humans, especially when combined with the Roundup weedkiller. Monsanto markets the two products – NK603 and Roundup – together as a weed-control strategy for farmers.
Still other scientists claim that the initial study may not be accurate as the sample size was too small. 200 rats were divided into 10 experimental groups, of which only 20 were “controls” that were fed ordinary corn and plain water.
“The first thing that leaps to my mind is why has nothing emerged from epidemiological studies in the countries where so much GM has been in the food chain for so long” said Mark Tester, a professor at the Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics, University of Adelaide, to Science Media Centre.
[quote]”If the effects are as big as purported, and if the work really is relevant to humans, why aren’t the North Americans dropping like flies?! GM has been in the food chain for over a decade over there – and longevity continues to increase inexorably.”[/quote]Related: Is Monsanto Using Us As “Human Guinea Pigs”?
Related: EU To Permit Unapproved GMOs in Food Imports
In a written statement, cited by WSJ, Monsanto also pledged to review the French study thoroughly “as we do all studies that relate to our products and technologies.”
The company added however that, “numerous peer-reviewed scientific studies performed on biotech crops to date, including more than a hundred feeding studies, have continuously confirmed their (NK603) safety.”
[quote]”Based on our initial review, we do not believe the study presents information that would justify any change in EFSA’s views on the safety of genetically-modified corn products or alter their approval status for genetically-modified imports,” Monsanto said.[/quote]
