Radical Noesis - Thinking outside the box

According to the Independent/UK, Monsanto engaged in secret research the has demonstrated that "rats fed GM corn due for sale in Britain developed abnormalities in blood and kidneys". The corn in question is MON 863 - a corn modified to control rootworm.

MON 863 was removed from the United States Department of Agriculture removed MON 863 from its regulated list in October of 2002:

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service [Docket No. 00-078-2] Monsanto Co.; Availability of Determination of Nonregulated Status for Corn Genetically Engineered for Insect Resistance

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY:
We are advising the public of our determination that the Monsanto Company corn designated as Event MON 863, which has been genetically engineered for insect resistance, is no longer considered a regulated article under our regulations governing the introduction of certain genetically engineered organisms and products. Our determination is based on our evaluation of data submitted by Monsanto
Company in its petition for a determination of nonregulated status, our analysis of other scientific data, and comments received from the public in response to a previous notice. This notice also announces the availability of our written determination document and our finding of no significant impact.

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 8, 2002. (The report is available here)

According to the Independent article, Monsanto kept the findings in the "1,139-page report" secret. The research showed that rats fed MON 863 had internal organ changes (including reduced kidney size) and blood abnormalities that seemed to reflect immune system changes. Monsanto is dismissing concerns, saying that "... 'MON 863 isn't new, having been approved to be as safe as conventional maize by nine other global authorities since 2003.'" Approved, of course, without Monsanto revealing the findings of its secret study.

The revelation comes as European countries get set to vote on whether to allow GM crops into their countries.

The big agriculture companies involved in biotechnology have mobilized to sell the public on the safety and efficacy of genetically modified foods. From downplaying concerns about cross-crop contamination, to environmental impacts, to health concerns. They have joined together to create a rapid response fund to kill any legislation that might limit their activities, or requiring labeling of genetically modified foods and ingredients. Their claims fly in the face of research and reality. The fact that they covered up potentially significant health effects is neither surprising or new.

Bill Moyers did an expose of the chemical industry in 2001 called Trade Secrets. The report documented a conspiracy lasting over 50 years by the chemical industry to suppress information about the known dangers of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Many of those same companies are the big players in the production of both chemicals and genetically modifed crops for agriculture. There is clearly no reason to assume that they have changed their patterns of protecting profits at the cost of public health and safety.

The medical field is searching for answers to increasing levels of a variety of diseases, particularly immune system related diseases. Frequently such studies point to environmental factors - particularly pesticides or pollution. One area that seems virtually lacking is the impact of genetically modified foods. It does not help when the biotech industry buries its own data about the impacts of these "products."