GM foods cause cancer in chronic rat study and may behave likewise in humans

Rats fed a lifelong diet of one of the bestselling strains of genetically modified corn suffered tumours and multiple organ damage, according to a controversial French study published today. Scientists said the results raised serious questions about the safety of GM foods and the assurances offered by biotech companies and governments. The first lifetime trials involving rats fed on GM corn found a raised incidence of breast tumours, liver and kidney damage. Dr Michael Antoniou, a molecular biologist at King’s College, London, and an expert on GM foods, said: ‘It shows an extraordinary number of tumours developing earlier and more aggressively – particularly in female animals. I am shocked by the extreme negative health impacts.’

The research was carried out by Caen University in France, and has been peer reviewed by independent scientists to guarantee the experiments were properly conducted and the results are valid. Dr Julian Little, of the Agricultural Biotechnology Council, which speaks for the GM industry, insisted GM foods were safe, adding: ‘The industry takes all health concerns regarding biotech food and feed very seriously.’ Anthony Trewavas, professor of cell biology at Edinburgh University, questioned the way the research had been conducted, saying the number of rats involved in the study – 200 – was too small to draw any meaningful conclusions. ‘To be frank, it looks like random variation to me in a rodent line likely to develop tumours anyway,’ he said.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2205509/Cancer-row-GM-fo…
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