"Genetically modified crops safety assessments: present limits and possible improvements"

[Tumbulu]

http://www.enveurope.com/content/23/1/10
this is a long read, but worth it. Some snippets:

"Conclusions
The 90-day-long tests are insufficient to evaluate chronic toxicity, and the signs highlighted in the kidneys and livers could be the onset of chronic diseases. However, no minimal length for the tests is yet obligatory for any of the GMOs cultivated on a large scale, and this is socially unacceptable in terms of consumer health protection. We are suggesting that the studies should be improved and prolonged, as well as being made compulsory, and that the sexual hormones should be assessed too, and moreover, reproductive and multigenerational studies ought to be conducted too."


"We can conclude, from the regulatory tests performed today, that it is unacceptable to submit 500 million Europeans and several billions of consumers worldwide to the new pesticide GM-derived foods or feed, this being done without more controls (if any) than the only 3-month-long toxicological tests and using only one mammalian species, especially since there is growing evidence of concern (Tables 1 and 2). This is why we propose to improve the protocol of the 90-day studies to 2-year studies with mature rats, using the Toxotest approach, which should be rendered obligatory, and including sexual hormones assessment too. The reproductive, developmental, and transgenerational studies should also be performed. The new SSC statistical method of analysis is proposed in addition. This should not be optional if the plant is designed to contain a pesticide (as it is the case for more than 99% of cultivated commercialized GMOs), whilst for others, depending on the inserted trait, a case-by-case approach in the method to study toxicity will be necessary."


OK, the US scientists who said this in the 80's were purged from the Land Grant Universities. Some became organic farmers. Some just gave up.

[PetrusMonsFormicarum]

1. >Whew!

For a second there I thought it was a Yes Men prank.

My liver and kidneys thank you very kindly for this link.

[BanzaiBonnie]

2. Perception management began in the 80s

The agenda was in full swing and has held sway for the last 30 years.


Feed them until they die. I hate to even think this... it is as horrible as the thought that 9/11 was either MIHOP or LIHOP... do you suppose there's some concerted effort at "populaiton control" through actively seeking the deaths of large portions of the world's population?

[Tumbulu]

3. I used to think it was

but just like with all the 9/11 conspiracies gave up the idea as I do not think people are that smart.

I think that it is more like the Soviet agricultural disasters born out of the grave disconnect between urban and rural sensibilities.

Having grown up among urbanites of multiple generations but having studied and worked in agriculture I am aware of the major gap between the two worlds.

Among regulatory and other government folk I used to hear the idea that genetic manipulation of plants had the capacity to put us ahead in agriculture in the same way that computers and software put us ahead of the world in technology. Bogging this new technology down with testing would allow other nations or regions to catch up to us.

They would not listen then and still do not seem to be listening. Again, thank goodness that science survived in Europe.