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The Health Risks ofGenetically Modified Foods
FDA declares GMOs no different“The agency is not aware of any
information showing that foods derived by these new methods differ
from other foods in any meaningful or uniform way.”
Food and Drug Administration
“Statement of Policy”May 29, 1992
Allergens
Toxins
New diseases
Nutritional problems
In reality, agency scientists warned of:
Person in charge of FDA’s GMO policy ignored scientists’ warnings
Michael Taylor•Former Monsanto attorney•Later Monsanto vice president•Now back at FDA as
US Food Safety Czar
GMOs are Inherently Unsafe
The GM process creates massive collateral damage in the plant, which can cause side-effects
GM potatoes
Rats developed• Potentially pre-
cancerous cell growth in the digestive tract
• Smaller brains, livers and testicles
• Partial atrophy of the liver, and
• Immune system damageLancet, 1999
damaged rats (10 or 110 days)
Stomach lining
Non-GM GM
Evidence of GM soy-related problems
Soon after GM soy
was introduced
into the UK, soy allergies skyrocketed
by 50%.York Laboratory
“One patient had a positive skin test result to GMOsoybeans only.”
Skin prick test
Allergy and Asthma Proceedings, 2005
(Preliminary, needs confirmation)
Possible causes for increase allergies
More herbicide residues Increased soy allergen New potential allergen?
Digestion enzymes reduced Roundup Ready protein may be allergenic
The Only Human Feeding
Study on GM Crops
Genes transferred to intestinal bacteria
Mice and rabbits fed Roundup Ready soy
Altered cells, enzymes, and/or gene expression in livers, kidneys, pancreas, and hearts
Higher metabolic activity(toxic insult)
Mice livers
Control GM-fed
Hepatocyte Nuclei
Mice livers
Control GM-fed
Hepatocyte Nucleoli
Rat LiversC, D – GM-soy group
А, B – control group
A
B
C
D
Rat testicles
Control GM soy fed
GM-soyControl
Mice fed GM soyTesticular cells (including sperm) had
altered structure and functionEuropean Journal of Histochemistry, 2004
Offspring of Mice Fed GM Soy
Young embryos from GM-fed parents had temporary decrease in gene expression
In press
Death of baby rats
Control GM-soy Non-GM soyIrina Ermakova, 2005-2007
>50%
10%
19-day old ratsLarger rat is from control group;
smaller from GM-soy group. Irina Ermakova, 2005-2007
Preliminary evidenceRat offspring did not conceive
When the entire Russian facility began using
GM soy-based feed, infant mortality
for all rats hit 55.3%.
inBuilt-in insecticide
Industry claims Bt: Has a history of
safe use Is destroyed
during digestion Is not active in
mammals
In reality
Bt in crops
Mice ate Bt corn (30/90 days)
Multiple immune system responses
Government of Italy
November 2008
Mice ate Bt cornIncreased
infertility and lower birth
weight
Government of Austria
November 2008
Rats ate Bt corn (90 days)
Indicators forliver and kidney toxicity,
blood pressure problems, allergies,
infections or disease, higher blood sugar,
and anemia
Monsanto study
Laborers in India report the same reactions to Bt cotton as those who were sprayedItching, eruptions, wounds, discoloration
Bt cotton• Hospital records: “Victims of itching
have increased massively this year . . . related to BT cotton farming.”
The Sunday Indian, 10/26/08
Thousands of sheep died after grazing onBt cotton plants
Bt cotton
Small Sheep StudyGMO group:
100% mortality within 30 days
Feb. 2008
Indian buffaloes
Reproductive Problems: Prolapsed uterus, premature deliveries, abortions, infertility
Sudden death
Buffalo (Warangal)• Grazed on Bt cotton plants (1 day) • Sick and unconscious for 2-3 days• 13 deaths
Bt corn, reports…
12 cows died on aGermanfarm
Bt corn, reports…
Farmers say pigs and cows became sterile
Inhaled Bt PollenSneezing, asthmacoughs, nose bleeds, swelling, fever, headache, stomach ache, dizziness, diarrhea, vomiting, weakness, and numbness
Bt corn, reports…
Deaths after consuming corn:• 9 horses• 4 buffalos• 37 chickens• 5 unexplained human deaths
If Bt genes
transfer They might turn our intestinal bacteria into living pesticide factories
If GM crops are so bad, why don’t we see more problems?
Killed about 100 and caused5,000-10,000 to fall sick
L-tryptophan produced by GM bacteria
The epidemic was discoveredbecause the disease1. Was new, with unique symptoms2. Acute3. Came on quickly
Current Assessments No post-marketing
surveillance
No human clinical trials
No proper evaluation of plant changes or effects
Approvals based on:•disproved or untested
assumptions•industry studies
The American Academy of Environmental Medicine
“Animal studies indicate serious health risks … including infertility, immune dysregulation, accelerated aging, dysregulation of genes associated with cholesterol synthesis, insulin regulation, cell signaling, and protein formation, and changes in the liver, kidney, spleen and gastrointestinal system.”
Many animals avoided GM feed when given a choice
How do wethe
genetic engineering of
our food supply?
Tipping point for rejection of GM crops
Tipping point against rBGH September 2006, Boston Globe“Dairies are rushing to rid their bottled milk of artificial growth hormones. . . it could be a tipping point.”
October 2006, New York Times“It seems to be an explosion in the industry.”
Wal-Mart, Kroger, Starbucks, andabout 40 of the top 100 dairieshave rejected rBGH so far.
Campaign for Healthier Eating in America
www.ResponsibleTechnology.org
