OTTAWA — Monsanto research obtained after a court battle in Germany suggests that a genetically altered corn approved in Canada produces adverse effects in rats, scientists who've seen the study say.
The corn, known as Mon863, is genetically engineered to produce a compound known as Bt, which is toxic to insects. Several crops containing Bt, including Mon863, are approved in Canada.
"I would conclude from these tests that the insecticide appears to have significant effects on health," said Gilles-Eric Seralini, a scientist with the Commission du Genie Biomoleculair, a French government agency, in an interview Wednesday from Geneva.
"I believe it is not an isolated case and that the pesticides contained within GMOs (genetically modified organisms) have the same kind of side effects as chemical pesticides."
Greenpeace, which obtained the 1,139-page Monsanto report under a European Union access-to-information law, says it shows that consumers are right to be suspicious of genetically modified foods.
The Monsanto research shows that rats fed GM corn had problems in their livers and kidneys, organs that remove toxins from the blood, said Seralini.
He said there are perhaps 10 studies around the world that have shown similar effects related to GM crops, but funding for research into the health effects of GMOs is hard to come by.
"Governments all over the world in rich countries have invested a lot in biotechnology and they have not invested in tests on health," the scientist said.
Arpad Pusztai, a scientist who had already done a risk assessment of Mon863 for the Germans, said it shouldn't be licensed.
"It cannot be presumed that the damages to the rats' inner organs and the animals' blood picture are based on chance. Further investigations are absolutely necessary."
Marc Richard, a spokesman for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, said the agency is aware of the Monsanto data but it hasn't changed their assessment that Mon863 is safe for animal feed.
Health Canada had no immediate comment. Monsanto's Ottawa office did not return calls.
Polls have shown that consumers are apprehensive about genetically modified foods, but industry and government officials maintain there's no health risk.
source: http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Science/2005/06/22/pf-1099964.html 24jun2005
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