Precautionary Principle Says No to GMO

A recent study published in Food and Chemical Toxicology (see abstract and citation below for details) evaluated the impact of feeding mice the common herbicide Roundup, as well as GMO Roundup-tolerant maize cultivated with and without Roundup, on mortality and cause of death compared to control animals (fed non-genetically modified maize).

The results were rather astounding and demonstrated that all treated animals died 2-3 times more than control animals and  they died more quickly.

Female animals developed large breast tumors almost always more often than and before controls, and the pituitary gland (in the brain) was also affected. Sex hormonal balance was modified by both GMO and Roundup treatments. In male animals, liver congestions and necrosis were 2.5–5.5 times higher.

After reading this study, I reflected on 2 main issues:

1. Why wasn't this study performed, and the duration extended, prior to the approval and availability of GMO-modified Roundup tolerant products to the public? How in the world did any regulatory agency approve the use of modified seeds in the US food supply before this type of independent toxicology study was performed?

2. Doesn't anyone actually apply the "Precautionary Principle" anymore, i.e., the Public Health principle that roughly states, don't expose the public until we know it's safe?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precautionary_principle

Regardless of whether or not future studies confirm these results, they are frightening. Regardless of whether or not your "trusted" regulatory agencies follow the "Precautionary Principle" - you should! How do you do it in this case?

1. Eat organic
2. Move to Europe (they are older and smarter there)
3. Move to New Zealand (they are just plain smarter there)


"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."

2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Citation: Séralini, G.-E., et al. Long term toxicity of a Roundup herbicide and a Roundup-tolerant genetically modified maize. Food Chem. Toxicol. (2012), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2012.08.005)

Putting Health into Practice-

Ryan Bradley, ND, MPH