Genetically Modified Foods Cause Tumors, Says French Study

What’s the Latest Development?

A new study out of France concludes that a diet of genetically modified corn, specifically Monsanto’s Roundup-resistant corn, gave rats who ate it a series of tumors, as well as trouble with their livers and kidneys. “During the two-year study, the scientists found that up to 50% of the male rats and 70% of females that ate genetically modified corn…died prematurely. That compared to a 30% (male) and 20% (female) mortality rate among control rats that ate conventional corn without Roundup.” The authors of the study also reported that rates of liver problems were 2.5 to 5 times higher in animals who ate genetically modified food.

What’s the Big Idea?

While several American geneticists have raised concerns over the small sample size of the study, proponents of California’s ballot initiative to label genetically modified foods have seized the moment to bolster their argument about food safety: “Gary Ruskin, campaign manager of the Yes on Proposition 37 effort, released a statement saying that the study’s findings ‘underscore the importance of giving California families the right to know whether our food is genetically engineered and to decide for ourselves whether we want to gamble with our health by eating GMO foods.'”

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