GMO corn causes liver, kidney problems in rats
March 17th, 2007 | Published in Agriculture, Food, Health
From Scientific American:
Environmental group Greenpeace launched a fresh attack on genetically modified maize developed by U.S. biotech giant Monsanto, saying on Tuesday that rats fed on one version developed liver and kidney problems.
Greenpeace said a study it had commissioned that was published in the journal Archives of Environmental Contamination and Technology showed rats fed for 90 days on Monsanto’s MON863 maize showed “signs of toxicity” in the liver and kidneys.
“It is the first time that independent research, published in a peer-reviewed journal, has proved that a GMO authorized for human consumption presents signs of toxicity,” Arnaud Apoteker, a spokesman for Greenpeace France said in a statement.
If you buy corn from the supermarket, chances are it’s genetically modified. They don’t label it, of course, because you wouldn’t buy anything that says “genetically modified.” These types of studies are not new (this has been known for a while), but since it is independent research and published in a peer-reviewed journal, it is bigger news. Another reason to buy organic corn from a local farmer’s market or co-op.