…That GMOs weren’t safe. State-based Action Alerts!
A new study from GMO researcher and molecular biologist Gilles-Éric Séralini, PhD, shows that the first commercialized genetically modified crop in 1996 may have been toxic to farm animals—but the evidence was swept under the rug. You may recall that Dr. Séralini recently won two court cases against those who had sought to ruin his reputation after he published a study linking GMO corn to cancer in rats.
Prof. Séralini’s new study demonstrates that the first GM corn produced for animal feed by Novartis (now Syngenta) was barely tested before coming to market. In fact, only one nutritional test was conducted on four cows for two weeks, and one cow otherwise inexplicably died after the first week.
This wasn’t the only indication that something was seriously wrong with the first GM corn. Séralini notes that a German dairy farmer, Gottfried Glöckner, who received accolades for his farm’s productivity, was working with the biotech industry between 1998 and 2002 to test the GM corn—in fact, he was the first farmer to feed Novartis’s corn to his dairy cows. Some time after the GMO corn was introduced into the animals’ diet, the cows began showing adverse health effects: partial paralysis, fatigue, problems in the kidneys and mucosal membranes and, in 10% of the cases, death. At this time, GMO corn was 40% of the cows’ diet.
Experts at the time looked for microbial causes of these health effects, but could not find any answers. Glöckner then sued Novartis and won partial compensation for the havoc wreaked on his cows by the introduction of GM corn into their diet.
After a detailed analysis of the veterinary records and data on individual cows, Séralini published a peer-reviewed paper suggesting that the GMO corn used on Glöckner’s farm had probably become toxic over time, reinforcing the need for long-term safety testing—and labeling—of genetically modified products. This is one of the chief worries about GMO food in general: that the ill effects may take a long time to fully manifest themselves. In test animals, it is not the first or even the second generation that may become sterile, for example, but the third.
This latest evidence further supports what labeling advocates have been saying for years: that people must have a choice about what they are buying. Unfortunately, those in power are giving little indication that they are listening.
We should also note the bravery of Prof. Séralini, who has overcome tremendous odds to challenge the pro-biotech establishment. Séralini, a professor at the University of Caen in France, has done a number of studies challenging the safety of genetically engineered foods. The journal Food and Chemical Toxicology first published—then, under intense pressure, decided to retract—Séralini’s 2012 paper containing evidence that GMO corn and Roundup can cause cancer and premature death in rats. The retraction was covered extensively in the media, which labeled Séralini a fraud—yet when the study was republished in the respected Environmental Sciences Europe, this re-validation made few headlines.
At the time of its retraction, the New York Times said his paper had been criticized as “flawed, sensationalist, and possibly even fraudulent by many scientists, some of whom are allied with the biotechnology industry” [emphasis ours]. The few journalists not bought and paid for by the biotech industry reported that Séralini was blasted for the number and type of rats that he used for the study, even though studies by the biotech industry use the same type and approximate number of rats!
Despite having his career almost destroyed, it is remarkable that Dr. Séralini has continued to press forward on his research exposing the negative health effects of GMOs—a true testament to his commitment to the truth and the public welfare.
The US Department of Agriculture recently convened meetings between industry and pro-labeling advocates, hoping to reach some sort of agreement over the GMO-labeling issue. Details emerging from the meetings, however, show that the biotech industry held fast to its offer of a voluntary labeling system consisting of scannable electronic codes on products—a very bad idea, as we’ve reported elsewhere. Mandatory GMO labeling legislation at the federal level continues to be stalled as voluntary labeling legislation gains momentum in the Senate.
Despite the inexcusable failure of federal legislators to listen to their constituents—no doubt because of the amount of industry campaign donations at risk—legislators are taking the initiative in a number of states, giving credence to the notion that states are the “laboratories of democracy.”
State-based Action Alerts! Check below to see if your state has pending legislation to mandate the labeling of GMOs. Please send your message immediately.
Alaska
Florida
Hawaii
Maine
Massachusetts
Missouri
Minnesota
New Jersey
New York
Oklahoma
Tennessee
Hopefully our next President will put a stop to politics as usual and give Government for the people back to the people.
I believe that We the People need to talk to each other on issues of health and well-being along with a lot of other stuff – including how political things have become and how uncivil some people are when a topic is addressed and how really connected things are. I think people need to speak out now if something does not seem right. Especially if it is an issue that effects you and the future. Some times it takes a situation where things are not really good for the people and ultimately have negative results. Like the water situation in Flint, MI and many other older properties where lead from the pipes and the chemicals in the water should be an issue – and not just an issue of blaming of whose fault it is and corporate “rights” and years of litigation where NOTHING gets set right, but the lawyers and advisors and all such profit and in the meantime, the problem is still there.
Looking through some older issues of Time and Newsweek I was intrigued by what the media and advertising was all about then. Interesting to compare it with these days.
We cannot rely on any politician to do anything beneficial. We have to demand it. Our government agencies are captured by the industries they “regulate.” We must be relentless in calling, emailing, advocating everywhere.
Do you really think government would do that? Government does not care for you and I it is only about their agenda. The corruption is everywhere it is rigged. We the people have to get off our butts and be the “squeaky wheel” as Jeremy below said “We must be relentless in calling, emailing, advocating everywhere.” We can’t let our guard down we need to all start using our common sense and talk to one another without the “social media mentality” It is a nice thought to hope for a leader that cared but that my friend is a fairytale .
Even if our next president tries to do that, it won’t be very effective without congress. I’m of the notion that our congresspeople have more of an effect on our lives than the president. Encourage grassroots candidates to run for congress as much as possible. And of course, talk to your representatives about issues you care about. Don’t let the corporate voice be the only one they hear.
All they need to do is make the FDA start to OBEY THE LAW INSTEAD OF BREAKING IT.
The law of the land says GMOs (any food, drug, cosmetic item) is LEGALLY UNSAFE until science proves otherwise with intense scientific, published studies – not that secret garbage we keep hearing about. That doesn’t meet the law, and no GMO has come anywhere near meeting legal MANDATES toward proving that they are safe.
Don’t think we’ll get any help from the FDA. Michael Taylor who is the Deputy Commissioner of the FDA used to be the V.P., attorney, and chief lobbyist at Monsanto and you know darn well he’s going to say GMO foods are safe and most of our politicians have been bought by Monsanto’s donations to the politicians.
We’d need a new prez to tell them to do it. FDA is in the executive branch. That is the ONLY place where Executive Orders are binding.
So where’s my comment?
The next President will do nothing regarding the GMO issue. Big Ag / Food have bought them off already. The only people who will make any difference and that will drive this thing is US..the Consumer..if we say NO..and vote with our food dollar they will lose market share and revenues…add law suits and other measures they will cave in.
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FDA has broken the law any time a GMO is allowed in our food supply, drug supply or cosmetic ingredients. The law MANDATES that the petitioned item be labeled UNSAFE – so nobody has to “prove” GMOs to be unsafe – the law states that it legally IS UNSAFE until short term, long term, and multigenerational PUBLISHED scientific studies PROVE that the item IS truly safe.
NO GMO has ever come anywhere close to proving such safety. Not even close. And you GMOrons? Secret proprietary studies DO NOT COUNT in this subversion of legality.
Die GMO industry, die. lol
One problem is the executives from these corrupt companies leave these corporations then are appointed jobs in the Federal Government to oversee the same corporations they just left. And also people in the Government also sit on the Board of directors of some of these same companies..