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“Safe” levels of Roundup weedkiller and GM corn found to cause tumours and multiple organ damage

HJ Fantaskis | 19.09.12

The Sustainable Food Trust has released peer-reviewed research today that shows the results of the first animal feeding trial into the life-time exposure of Roundup tolerant GM corn and Roundup, the world’s best selling weed killer. The study, published online by the scientific journal, Food and Chemical Toxicology, shows that levels currently considered safe could cause mammary tumours, kidney and liver damage.

The study was led by molecular biologist and endocrinologist, Professor Gilles-Eric Seralini of the University of Caen in France and supported by the independent research organization, CRIIGEN. The researchers used 200 rats that were fed a diet containing the Roundup tolerant GM maize, NK603, or given water containing Roundup, at levels permitted in drinking water and GM crops in the US. It showed that these rats developed tumours faster and died earlier than rats fed on a standard diet.

For details of the full research findings please visit the microsite research.sustainablefoodtrust.com

The results are game-changing in the debate around genetically modified food as this is the first time any scientific research has shown a link between GM food crops and health. The research is also the first to show the impact of the weed killer, Roundup, over a two year period – the entire lifespan of a rat. All previous studies into GM and Roundup have stopped at 90 days whereas this research showed that the most serious health impacts only started to show at four months, with the majority of tumours developing from 18 months onwards.

In the UK and Europe, GM maize is not consumed directly by humans but it is widely included in animal feed. Hundreds of thousands of tons of GM corn is imported to the UK each year for use in the diets of chickens, pigs and dairy cows. Products from these animals are currently sold in British supermarkets without any requirement for GM labeling.

Michael Antoniou, molecular biologist and gene expert at Kings College, London and Scientific Advisor to the Sustainable Food Trust says, “This is the most thorough research ever published into the health effects of GM food crops and the herbicide Roundup on rats. 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.”

Patrick Holden, the CEO of the Sustainable Food Trust says, “Part of our core mission is to develop a body of informed public opinion about the links between farming practice and the impact on health. The SFT considers that research of this kind is fundamental to inform the dialogue around how we produce our food, and the SFT has a significant role to play in communicating such research in accessible, plain English, so that the general public feel able to engage with these issues.”

To help further communicate these results, the Sustainable Food Trust has commissioned a microsite: research.sustainablefoodtrust.com

The microsite breaks down all the research into key messages, videos and provides headlines that can be easily shared using social media.

The Sustainable Food Trust believes there is an urgent need for more research into both the wide spread use of pesticides and the consumption of GM food crops.

Patrick Holden says, “The research exposes a critical deficiency in the regulatory process which, due to the short-duration of the required feeding-trials, failed to identify the serious, long-term health consequences of consuming these crops."

Spread this vital research through your social media networks, visit: research.sustainablefoodtrust.com

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