Report: Monsanto Corn Causes Organ Damage in Mammals

[skunk]

Twilightearth source (http://twilightearth.com/environment/report-monsanto-corn-causes-organ-damage-in-mammals/)

A Comparison of the Effects of Three GM Corn Varieties on Mammalian Health (http://www.biolsci.org/v05p0706.htm)

Conclusions of their study (sorry for the wall of text, that's how I found it):

Patho-physiological profiles are unique for each GM crop/food, underlining the necessity for a case-by-case evaluation of their safety, as is largely admitted and agreed by regulators. It is not possible to make comments concerning any general, similar subchronic toxic effect for all GM foods. However, in the three GM maize varieties that formed the basis of this investigation, new side effects linked to the consumption of these cereals were revealed, which were sex- and often dose-dependent. 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 [4 (http://www.biolsci.org/v05p0706.htm#B4)]. We therefore conclude that our data strongly suggests that these GM maize varieties induce a state of hepatorenal toxicity. This can be due to the new pesticides (herbicide or insecticide) present specifically in each type of GM maize, although unintended metabolic effects due to the mutagenic properties of the GM transformation process cannot be excluded [42 (http://www.biolsci.org/v05p0706.htm#B42)]. All three GM maize varieties contain a distinctly different pesticide residue associated with their particular GM event (glyphosate and AMPA in NK 603, modified Cry1Ab in MON 810, modified Cry3Bb1 in MON 863). 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. Furthermore, any side effect linked to the GM event will be unique in each case as the site of transgene insertion and the spectrum of genome wide mutations will differ between the three modified maize types. In conclusion, our data presented here strongly recommend that additional long-term (up to 2 years) animal feeding studies be performed in at least three species, preferably also multi-generational, to provide true scientifically valid data on the acute and chronic toxic effects of GM crops, feed and foods. Our analysis highlights that the kidneys and liver as particularly important on which to focus such research as there was a clear negative impact on the function of these organs in rats consuming GM maize varieties for just 90 days.

[skunk]

From the twilightearth source:

A report released by the International Journal of Biological Sciences states that three types of Monsanto corn, cause cancer and organ damage in mammals.

In what is being described as the first ever and most comprehensive study (http://go2.wordpress.com/?id=725X1342&site=foodfreedom.wordpress.com&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.biolsci.org%2Fv05p0706.htm%23 headingA11) of the effects of genetically modified foods on mammalian health, researchers have linked organ damage with consumption of Monsanto’s GM maize.

Three varieties of Monsanto (http://twilightearth.com/2009/05/the-world-according-to-monsanto-full-documentary/)’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.

The Committee of Independent Research and Information on Genetic Engineering (CRIIGEN (http://www.criigen.org/)) and Universities of Caen and Rouen obtained Monsanto’s confidential raw data of its 2002 feeding trials on rats after a European court made it public in 2005.
The data “clearly underlines adverse impacts on kidneys and liver, the dietary detoxifying organs, as well as different levels of damages to heart, adrenal glands, spleen and haematopoietic system,” reported Gilles-Eric Séralini, a molecular biologist at the University of Caen.
Their December 2009 study (http://www.biolsci.org/v05p0706.htm#headingA11) appears in the International Journal of Biological Sciences (http://www.biolsci.org/)(IJBS). This latest study conforms with a 2007 analysis (http://www.greenpeace.org/raw/content/international/press/reports/gp_briefing_seralini_study.pdf) by CRIIGEN on Mon 863, published in Environmental Contamination and Toxicology (http://www.springer.com/environment/environmental+toxicology/journal/244), using the same data.

The researchers conclude that the raw data from all three GMO studies reveal novel pesticide residues will be present in food and feed and may pose grave health risks to those consuming them.
They have called for “an immediate ban on the import and cultivation of these GMOs and strongly recommend additional long-term (up to two years) and multi-generational animal feeding studies on at least three species to provide true scientifically valid data on the acute and chronic toxic effects of GM crops, feed and foods.”
This may be the reason we see bee colony collapse disorder (http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=8436) and massive butterfly deaths (http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_agriculture/science_and_impacts/impacts_genetic_engineering/environmental-effects-of.html#monarch). If GMOs are wiping out Earth’s pollinators, they are far more disastrous than the threat they pose to humans and other mammals.


Click here to sign a petition to halt the sale of Monsanto GMO Corn! (http://www.change.org/actions/view/get_organ-damaging_monsanto_corn_off_the_market)

UPDATE: I received an Email from Monsanto shortly after publication of this article with a rebuttal. In deference to journalistic fairness, because we consider ourselves unbiased in our reporting and because Monsanto has a history of litigation and heavy handedness, here is there response…
Hi Adam,
I saw your post on Twilight earth about Monsanto corn causing organ damage and wanted to let you know we have a response page on our website and a comment that was forwarded to me from one of our medical directors, Dan Goldstein. Please see below. I hope you can add this to your blog post. If not, I would be happy to leave this information in the comments section.

In the current paper (de Vendomois et al., 2009) that is cited in your post, as with the prior publication (Seralini et al, 2007), Seralini and his colleagues use non-traditional statistical methods to reassess toxicology data from studies conducted with MON 863, MON 810 and NK603 corn varieties, and reach unsubstantiated conclusions.

The French High Counsel on Biotechnology (HCB) has considered both the de Vendomois (2009) and Seralini (2007) (http://www.ogm.gouv.fr/communiques/CP_Saisine-Grosdidier-HCB20090106.pdf) papers and has found that these papers make no useful contribution to the safety assessment.

Statistical fluctuations occur commonly in any large study with many endpoints, and statistical significance alone does not determine when an observation can be translated into evidence of risk. Making this determination requires consideration of:
• dose-related trends (higher dose should produce greater effect)
• reproducibility
• relationship to other findings such as abnormal organ appearance on pathology examinations
• the magnitude of the differences and the relationship of the findings to the normal range of values
• occurrence of a particular finding in both sexes (adjusting for known gender related differences in some tests)

When considered using proper statistical analysis in conjunction with these other criteria, the toxicology studies cited fail to demonstrate any adverse effects of these products.

A more complete discussion of the issues related to this publication, as well as references to pertinent publications, see is available on the Monsanto website: Monsanto Response: de Vendomois et al. 2009 (http://www.monsanto.com/products/techandsafety/fortherecord_science/2010/monsanto_response_de_vendomois.asp)

Dan also wrote a blog post about Seralini’s past studies and their lack of validity. http://blog.monsantoblog.com/2009/06/23/seralini-safety-study/

Thanks so much,
Kathleen Manning
Monsanto Company

(Twilight Earth) The creator of the study has a follow up to Monsanto’s rebuttal:
Séralini explained (http://foodfreedom.wordpress.com/2010/01/01/three-approved-gmos-linked-to-organ-damage/) that their study goes beyond Monsanto’s analysis by exploring the sex-differentiated health effects on mammals, which Doull, et al. ignored:

“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, dramatic for public health. This is the major conclusion revealed by our work, the only careful reanalysis of Monsanto crude statistical data.” [Communication to author]

Other problems with Monsanto’s conclusions

When testing for drug or pesticide safety, the standard protocol uses three mammalian species. The subject studies only used rats, yet won GMO approval in more than a dozen nations.

Chronic problems are rarely discovered in 90 days; most often such tests run for up to two years. Tests “lasting longer than three months give more chances to reveal metabolic, nervous, immune, hormonal or cancer diseases,” wrote Seralini, et al. in their Doull rebuttal. [See “How Subchronic and Chronic Health Effects can be Neglected for GMOs, Pesticides or Chemicals.” IJBS; 2009; 5(5):438-443.]

Further, Monsanto’s analysis compared unrelated feeding groups, muddying the results. The June 2009 rebuttal explains, “In order to isolate the effect of the GM transformation process from other variables, it is only valid to compare the GMO … with its isogenic (http://www.isogenic.info/html/isogenic.html) non-GM equivalent.”

Some material sourced from food for freedom (http://foodfreedom.wordpress.com/2010/01/01/three-approved-gmos-linked-to-organ-damage/)website by Rady Ananda

For more on Monsanto, visit Organic Lifestyle Magazine. (http://www.organiclifestylemagazine.com/issue-8/monsanto.php)

[hp]

glyphosate

Good old Roundup. The roundup ready crops are sure to care more of this material in the future.

[Snow Crash]

Ugh... Monsanto never cease to make my skin crawl... nice find skunk.

[skunk]

Bump.

[Jackinthebox]

Maybe I wasn't so wrong here either...

http://sites.google.com/site/jacksboxproject/nutricide

Bump.

[Lexion]

Twilight Earth ?

Wendy Gabriel ?

I'm going to get a hamburger.

[skunk]

Biolsci.org? (http://www.biolsci.org/v05p0706.htm) Someone linked that site on twitter, with a link to the actual study.

[skunk]

Biolsci.org? (http://www.biolsci.org/v05p0706.htm) Someone linked that site on twitter, with a link to the actual study.

Bump. Read the linked study lex, not the twilight earth link.

We therefore conclude that our data strongly suggests that these GM maize varieties induce a state of hepatorenal toxicity (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hepatorenal_syndrome).

...

Our analysis highlights that the kidneys and liver as particularly important on which to focus such research as there was a clear negative impact on the function of these organs in rats consuming GM maize varieties for just 90 days.

Hepatorenal syndrome (often abbreviated HRS) is a life-threatening medical condition that consists of rapid deterioration in kidney function in individuals with cirrhosis or fulminant liver failure. HRS is usually fatal unless a liver transplant is performed, although various treatments, such as dialysis, can prevent advancement of the condition.

[Cogburn]

Maybe I wasn't so wrong here either...

http://sites.google.com/site/jacksboxproject/nutricide

Bump.

http://media.giantbomb.com/uploads/1/18169/1166980-facepalm___anime_super.jpg