Get the Facts: Toxins and Reproductive Failures
By Jeffrey M. Smith
Rhetoric from the US government since the early 1990s proclaims
that genetically modified (GM) foods are not significantly different from
natural plant foods. This assertion is political, not scientific. In fact, FDA scientists
had privately warned that splicing foreign genes into crops might produce
dangerous side effects, including high levels of toxins. Their concerns have now
been validated.
Nearly every independent animal feeding safety study on GM
foods, as well as several industry studies, show adverse or unexplained
effects. Even the first crop submitted to the FDA’s voluntary review process,
the FlavrSavr tomato, showed evidence of toxins. Out of 20 female rats fed the
GM tomato, 7 developed stomach lesions.[i]
According to expert Arpad Pusztai, PhD, such lesions in humans “could lead to
life-endangering hemorrhage, particularly in the
elderly who use aspirin to prevent [blood clots].”[ii]
GM diets may cause
liver damage
The liver processes toxins; its state can reveal toxins in
the diet. Liver cells of mice fed GM “Roundup Ready” soybeans had structural
changes,[iii]
which, according to molecular geneticist Michael Antoniou, PhD, “must reflect some ‘insult’ on the liver by the
GM soy.” Antoniou, who does human gene therapy research, said that although the long-term consequences of the
GM soy diet are not known, it “could
lead to liver damage and consequently general toxemia.”[iv]
In addition, rats fed GM corn had liver lesions and indications of toxicity;[v]
rabbits fed GM Roundup Ready soy showed altered production of liver enzymes;[vi]
and the livers of rats fed Roundup Ready canola were 12%–16% heavier, possibly due
to liver disease or inflammation.[vii]
Organ damage and higher
death rates
Virtually every
organ shows changes from GM food. The pancreas of mice fed Roundup Ready soy showed
profound differences, including reduced digestive enzymes;[viii]
the pancreas of rats fed GM potatoes were enlarged.[ix]
In various analyses of kidneys, GM-fed animals showed lesions, toxicity,
altered enzyme production, and inflammation. Enzyme production in the hearts of
mice was altered by GM soy,[x] and GM potatoes
caused slower growth in the brains, livers, and testicles[xi]
of rats as well as potentially precancerous cell growth in their stomach and
intestines.[xii] Mice fed Bt
potatoes—engineered to produce the insecticide called Bt-toxin—also had proliferative
cell growth in their small intestine, as well as abnormal and damaged cells.[xiii]
In the FlavrSavr tomato study, 7 of 40 rats died within two
weeks and were replaced.[xiv] Chickens fed
GM corn died at twice the rate of those fed natural corn.[xv]
But in these two industry-funded studies, the deaths were dismissed without
adequate explanation or follow-up.
Reproductive failures
and infant mortality
A preliminary study by a senior researcher at the Russian
National Academy of Sciences had devastating results. More than half the
offspring (51.6%) from female rats fed GM soy died within three weeks, compared
to 10% from the non-GM soy group.[xvi] The
average size and weight of the GM group was smaller,[xvii]
and they were unable to conceive.[xviii] Just after
this study was completed, the Russian laboratory coincidentally began feeding
GM soy-based feed to all their rats. After
two months on the GM soy diet, the infant mortality of rats throughout the
facility reached 55.3%.[xix]
When male rats were fed Roundup Ready soy, their testicles
became dark blue instead of pink.[xx] GM soy diets
also altered young sperm cells in mice;[xxi]
and when parent mice ate GM soy, it changed the functioning of DNA in their
offspring’s embryos.[xxii] An
Austrian government study reported that mice fed GM corn had fewer babies, and smaller
babies.[xxiii]
Farmers report
livestock sterility and deaths
About two dozen farmers report that pigs had reproductive
problems when fed varieties of Bt corn. Pigs were sterile, had false
pregnancies, or gave birth to bags of water. Some cows and bulls also became
sterile. Other farmers blamed Bt corn for the deaths of cows, horses, water
buffaloes, and chickens. [xxiv]
When Indian shepherds let their sheep graze continuously on
Bt cotton plants after harvest, within 5-7 days 1 out of 4 sheep died. An
estimated 10,000 sheep died in one region alone. Post mortems showed severe
irritation and black patches in intestines and livers. Investigators said
preliminary evidence “strongly suggests that the sheep mortality was due to a
toxin. . . . most probably Bt-toxin.”[xxv]
The majority of corn grown in the US produces Bt-toxin.
Investigators in the state of
Haryana, India, report that most buffalo that ate GM cottonseed had reproductive
complications such as premature deliveries, abortions, infertility, and
prolapsed uteruses. Many calves died.
[i] Department of Veterinary Medicine, FDA,
correspondence June 16, 1993. As quoted in Fred A. Hines, Memo to Dr. Linda
Kahl. “Flavr Savr Tomato: . . . Pathology Branch’s Evaluation of Rats with
Stomach Lesions From Three Four-Week Oral (Gavage) Toxicity Studies . . . and
an Expert Panel’s Report,” Alliance for Bio-Integrity (June 16, 1993) http://www.biointegrity.org/FDAdocs/17/view1.html
[ii] Arpad Pusztai, “Genetically Modified Foods: Are They
a Risk to Human/Animal Health?” June 2001 Action Bioscience www.actionbioscience.org/biotech/pusztai.html
[iii] M. Malatesta, C. Caporaloni, S. Gavaudan, M. B. Rocchi, S. Serafini, C.
Tiberi, G. Gazzanelli, “Ultrastructural Morphometrical and Immunocytochemical
Analyses of Hepatocyte Nuclei from Mice Fed on Genetically Modified Soybean,” Cell
Struct Funct. 27 (2002): 173–180
[v] John M. Burns, “13-Week Dietary Subchronic Comparison
Study with MON 863 Corn in Rats Preceded by a 1-Week Baseline Food Consumption
Determination with PMI Certified Rodent Diet #5002,” December 17, 2002 www.monsanto.com/monsanto/content/sci_tech/prod_safety/fullratstudy.pdf
[vi] R. Tudisco, P. Lombardi, F. Bovera, D. d’Angelo, M.
I. Cutrignelli, V. Mastellone, V. Terzi, L. Avallone, F. Infascelli,
“Genetically Modified Soya Bean in Rabbit Feeding: Detection of DNA Fragments
and Evaluation of Metabolic Effects by Enzymatic Analysis,” Animal Science 82
(2006): 193–199.
[vii] Comments to ANZFA about Applications A346, A362 and A363 from the Food
Legislation and Regulation Advisory Group (FLRAG) of the Public Health
Association of Australia (PHAA) on behalf of the PHAA, “Food produced from
glyphosate-tolerant canola line GT73,” www.iher.org.au/
[viii] Malatesta, et al, “Ultrastructural Analysis of
Pancreatic Acinar Cells from Mice Fed on Genetically modified Soybean,” J Anat.
2002 November; 201(5): 409–415; see also M. Malatesta, M. Biggiogera, E.
Manuali, M. B. L. Rocchi, B. Baldelli, G. Gazzanelli, “Fine Structural Analyses
of Pancreatic Acinar Cell Nuclei from Mice Fed on GM Soybean,” Eur J
Histochem 47 (2003): 385–388.
[ix] Arpad Pusztai, “Can science give us the tools for recognizing possible
health risks of GM food,” Nutrition and Health, 2002, Vol 16 Pp 73-84
[x] R. Tudisco, P. Lombardi, F. Bovera, D. d’Angelo, M. I. Cutrignelli, V.
Mastellone, V. Terzi, L. Avallone, F. Infascelli, “Genetically Modified Soya
Bean in Rabbit Feeding: Detection of DNA Fragments and Evaluation of Metabolic
Effects by Enzymatic Analysis,” Animal Science 82 (2006): 193–199.
[xi] Arpad Pusztai, “Can science give us the tools for recognizing possible
health risks of GM food,” Nutrition and Health, 2002, Vol 16 Pp 73-84
[xii] Stanley W. B. Ewen and Arpad Pusztai, “Effect of diets containing
genetically modified potatoes expressing Galanthus nivalis lectin on rat small
intestine,” Lancet, 1999 Oct 16; 354 (9187): 1353-4.
[xiii] Nagui H. Fares, Adel K. El-Sayed, “Fine Structural
Changes in the Ileum of Mice Fed on Endotoxin Treated Potatoes and Transgenic
Potatoes,” Natural Toxins 6, no. 6 (1998): 219–233.
[xiv] Arpad Pusztai, “Can Science Give Us the Tools for Recognizing Possible
Health Risks for GM Food?” Nutrition and Health 16 (2002): 73–84.
[xv] S. Leeson, “The Effect of Glufosinate Resistant Corn on Growth of Male
Broiler Chickens,” Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, University of
Guelph, Report No. A56379, July 12, 1996.
[xvi] I.V.Ermakova, “Genetically
Modified Organisms and Biological Risks,” Proceedings of International
Disaster Reduction Conference (IDRC) Davos, Switzerland August 27th – September 1st, 2006:
168–172.
[xvii] Irina Ermakova, “Genetically
modified soy leads to the decrease of weight and high mortality of rat pups of
the first generation.
Preliminary studies,” Ecosinform 1 (2006): 4–9.
[xviii] Irina
Ermakova, “Experimental Evidence of GMO Hazards,” Presentation at Scientists
for a GM Free Europe, EU Parliament, Brussels, June 12, 2007
[xix] I.V.Ermakova “GMO: Life itself intervened into the experiments,” Letter,
EcosInform N2 (2006): 3–4.
[xx] Irina Ermakova, “Experimental Evidence of GMO Hazards,” Presentation at Scientists for a GM Free Europe, EU Parliament, Brussels, June 12, 2007
[xxi] L. Vecchio et al, “Ultrastructural Analysis of Testes from Mice Fed on
Genetically Modified Soybean,” European Journal of Histochemistry 48,
no. 4 (Oct–Dec 2004):449–454.
[xxii] Oliveri et al., “Temporary Depression of
Transcription in Mouse Pre-implantion Embryos from Mice Fed on Genetically
Modified Soybean,” 48th Symposium of the Society for Histochemistry, Lake
Maggiore (Italy), September 7–10, 2006.
[xxiii] Alberta Velimirov and Claudia Binter, “Biological
effects of transgenic maize NK603xMON810 fed in long term reproduction studies
in mice,” Forschungsberichte der Sektion IV, Band 3/2008
[xxiv] Jeffrey
M. Smith, Genetic Roulette: The Documented Health Risks of Genetically
Engineered Foods, Yes! Books, Fairfield, IA USA 2007
[xxv]
“Mortality in Sheep Flocks after
Grazing on Bt Cotton Fields—Warangal District, Andhra Pradesh” Report
of the Preliminary Assessment, April 2006, http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp
To learn more about the health
dangers of GMOs, and what you can do to help end the genetic engineering of our
food supply, visit www.ResponsibleTechnology.org.
To learn how to choose healthier
non-GMO brands, visit www.NonGMOShoppingGuide.com.
