Researchers at the University of Caen in France claim that a diet of Monsanto’s genetically modified (GM) maize—which has been approved for consumption in the United States since 2000—caused rats to suffer organ damage, develop debilitating tumors, and die early. But the 2-year study, which was published yesterday (September 19) in the journal Food and Chemical Toxicology, has drawn swift criticism from scientists who point out missing data and questionable methods.
In the study, researchers divided rats into 4 groups: one fed GM maize—resistant to Monsanto’s week-killer, Roundup—that had traces of Roundup; a second fed GM maize without Roundup; a third fed conventional maize and Roundup-laced water; and a control group given conventional maize and pure water.
Within 2 years—a rat’s normal lifespan—the study reports that of the rats fed GM maize, 50 percent of males and 70 percent of females died early, compared to 20 percent of males and ...
