Loading Please Wait

Call Toll Free: 877-985-2695

Edit
this post

Write
A New Post

Forum Admin

Control Panel

Sign
in
|

Join

| Help

Home

Products

Articles

Pets

Fitness

Videos

Contact Us

Subscribe to The World's #1 Natural Health
Website†

Loading Please Wait

Hide this

Previous Article Next Article

Story at-a-glance

A two-year long French feeding study designed to
evaluate the long-term health effects of a genetically engineered corn found
that rats fed Monsanto’s maize developed massive breast tumors, kidney and
liver damage, and other serious health problems. The major onslaught of
diseases set in during the 13th month

Female rats that ate genetically engineered corn died
2-3 times more than controls, and more rapidly, while the male GE-fed rats had
tumors that occurred up to a year-and-a-half earlier than rats not fed GE corn

According to results from a 10-year long feeding study
on rats, mice, pigs and salmon, genetically engineered feed causes obesity,
along with significant changes in the digestive system and major organs,
including the liver, kidneys, pancreas, genitals and more

The EPA admits there’s “mounting evidence” that
Monsanto’s insecticide-fighting YieldGard corn is losing its effectiveness in
the Midwest. Last year, rootworms resistant to the toxin in the genetically
designed corn infested fields in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota and Nebraska

Genetically engineered foods are responsible for
development of resistant weeds and pests; increased pathogenic virulence;
degradation of soil quality; reduced nutrient content in food; exponential
rise in infertility and birth defects; and reduced crop yields, and
more

Most Popular

1

First-Ever
Lifetime Feeding Study Finds Genetically Engineered Corn Causes Massive Tumors,
Organ Damage, and Early Death

2

Why
Exercise Should Be Part of Standard Cancer Care

3

Foundational
Lifestyle Strategies to Maintain Healthy Blood Pressure

4

Confirmed!
Flu Vaccine INCREASES Risk of Serious Pandemic Flu Illness

5

Organic
Foods are Safer and Healthier than Conventional... True or False?

Related Links:

Will
Congress Grant Biotech Companies Immunity from Federal Law?

The
"Food Fight of Our Lives"

Decade-Long
Feeding Study Reveals Significant Health Hazards of Genetically Engineered
Foods

First-Ever Lifetime Feeding Study Finds Genetically Engineered Corn Causes
Massive Tumors, Organ Damage, and Early Death

September 22 2012 | 249,201 views | + Add to
Favorites

Tweet

Email

Print

Total Video Length: 00:07:54

Visit the
Mercola Video Library

By Dr. Mercola

The first-ever lifetime feeding study1 evaluating the health risks of genetically
engineered foods was published online on September 19, and the results are
troubling, to say the least. This new study joins a list of over 30
other animal studies showing toxic or allergenic problems with genetically
engineered foods.

The study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Food and Chemical
Toxicology, found that rats fed a type of genetically engineered corn
that is prevalent in the US food supply for two years developed massive
mammary tumors, kidney and liver damage, and other serious health
problems.

The research was considered so "hot" that the work was done under strict
secrecy. According to a French article in Le Nouvel Observateur,2 the researchers used encrypted emails, phone
conversations were banned, and they even launched a decoy study to prevent
sabotage!

According to the authors:

"The health effects of a Roundup-tolerant genetically modified maize
(from 11% in the diet), cultivated with or without Roundup, and Roundup
alone (from 0.1ppb in water), were studied 2 years in rats. [Editors
note: this level of Roundup is permitted in drinking water and GE crops in
the US]

In females, all treated groups died 2-3 times more than controls, and
more rapidly. This difference was visible in 3 male groups fed GMOs.

All results were hormone and sex dependent, and the pathological
profiles were comparable. Females developed large mammary tumors almost
always more often than and before controls, the pituitary was the second
most disabled organ; the sex hormonal balance was modified by GMO and
Roundup treatments.

In treated males, liver congestions and necrosis were 2.5-5.5 times
higher... Marked and severe kidney nephropathies were also generally 1.3-2.3
greater. Males presented 4 times more large palpable tumors than controls,
which occurred up to 600 days earlier.

Biochemistry data confirmed very significant kidney chronic
deficiencies; for all treatments and both sexes, 76% of the altered
parameters were kidney related. These results can be explained by the non
linear endocrine-disrupting effects of Roundup, but also by the
overexpression of the transgene in the GMO and its metabolic
consequences."

Folks, if this doesn't get your attention, nothing will.

Does 10 percent or more of your diet consist of genetically engineered (GE)
ingredients? At present, you can't know for sure, since GE foods are not
labeled in the US. But chances are, if you eat processed foods, your diet is
chock full of genetically engineered ingredients you didn't even know
about.

The study in question includes photos and graphs. I highly recommend taking
the time to actually read through this remarkable study,3 and look at the documented evidence. They really are
not exaggerating when they say it caused massive tumors... They are huge! Some
of the tumors weighed in at 25 percent of the rat's total body weight. This is
the most current and best evidence to date of the toxic effects of GE foods.

Why Aren't Americans Dropping Like Flies?

Rats only live a few years. Humans live around 80 years, so we will notice
these effects in animals long before we see them in humans. The gigantic human
lab experiment is only about 10 years old, so we are likely decades away from
tabulating the human casualties. This is some of the strongest evidence to
date that we need to exercise the precautionary principle ASAP and avoid these
foods. Naturally, the study is already under heavy fire. According to Monsanto
spokesman Thomas Helscher:4

"Numerous peer-reviewed scientific studies performed on biotech crops
to date, including more than a hundred feeding studies, have continuously
confirmed their safety, as reflected in the respective safety assessments by
regulatory authorities around the world."

However, it's critical to understand that the longest feeding study was a
mere 90 days long – a far cry from two years! In the featured study, the true
onslaught of diseases really set in during the 13th month of the
experiment, although tumors and severe liver and kidney damage did emerge as
early as four months in males, and seven months for females.

Is it any wonder then that feeding studies lasting just a few weeks or even
three months have failed to corroborate these horrific findings? Reuters
quotes Mark Tester, a research professor at the Australian Centre for Plant
Functional Genomics at the University of Adelaide as saying:5

"If the effects are as big as purported, and if the work really is
relevant to humans, why aren't the North Americans dropping like flies? GM
has been in the food chain for over a decade over there – and longevity
continues to increase inexorably."

Although there are clearly many variables that contribute to cancer, GE
foods are a new candidate as they have been in our food supply for over a
decade. Interestingly, cancer was just declared as having overtaken heart
disease as the number one killer among American Hispanics,6 and according to 2009 CDC statistics it's now also
the leading killer in 18 states.

I believe it is crucial that we implement the precautionary principle as
rapidly as possible as this study confirms it is difficult to predict
precisely what GE foods might do to the youths of today, as many are eating a
fair amount of GE ingredients practically from day one. (Yes, some infant
formulas actually contain GE ingredients!) What will their health
be 10 or 20 years from now? Most adults simply haven't been eating GE foods
long enough to tell what the real ramifications are.

Do we really wait 50 years to see what GE foods will do to the
human health and lifespan?

GE Foods' Connection to Breast Cancer

This newest study provides clear and convincing evidence that GE
agriculture is contributing to cancer in exposed populations. The timing of
this new study – two weeks before Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) – is
therefore all the more fitting, as GreenMedInfo.com recently commented on this
study:7

"...in female animals, 93 percent of the tumors found were in the
mammary glands. They also '...observed a strikingly marked induction of
mammary tumors by R[oundup] alone ...even at the very lowest dose
administered.'"

Generational gene transfer is yet another issue. A frequent claim has been
that new genes introduced in GE foods are harmless, as they would
theoretically be broken up in the intestines. But researchers have now
discovered that genes can be transferred through the intestinal wall into your
blood. GE crop genes have been found in sufficiently large amounts in human
blood, muscle tissue and liver to be identified.8 And the biological impact – especially the
generational impact – of this gene transfer is completely unknown, and cannot
be known for at least a human generation or two. Unless we take notice of the
results from animal feeding studies, that is...

10-Year Feeding Study ALSO Found GE Foods Cause Severe Health Problems

This news comes on the heels of another experimental animal feeding study
carried out over a 10-year period in Norway. It was published earlier this
summer, and in this study, genetically engineered (GE) corn and corn-based
products were found to cause obesity, and alter the function of the digestive
system and major organs, including the liver, kidneys, pancreas, and
genitals.9 Animals fed genetically engineered Bt corn ate more,
got fatter, and were less able to digest proteins due to alterations in the
micro-structure of their intestines. They also suffered immune system
alterations.

The impaired ability to digest proteins may be of particular concern as
this can have far-reaching implications for human health. If your body cannot
digest proteins, your body will be less able to produce amino acids, which are
necessary building blocks for proper cell growth and function.

Monsanto's GE Corn is Already Losing its Effectiveness, Giving Rise to
Superbugs and Superweeds

Related news also sheds light on the massive devastation brought on the
environment by GE crops, and how soil destruction ends up affecting your
health by decimating the nutrient content in the foods you eat.

In response to a scientific study that determined Western corn rootworms on
two Illinois farms had developed resistance to Monsanto's YieldGard corn, the
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) made an admission about genetically
engineered crops: Yes, there is "mounting evidence" that Monsanto's
insecticide-fighting corn is losing its effectiveness in the Midwest. Last
year, resistant rootworms infested corn fields in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota
and Nebraska.

According to Bloomberg:10

"The agency's latest statement on rootworm resistance comes a year
after the problem was first documented and just as U.S. corn yields are
forecast to be the lowest in 17 years amid drought in the Corn Belt. Corn is
St. Louis-based Monsanto's biggest business line, accounting for $4.81
billion of sales, or 41 percent of total revenue, in its 2011 fiscal
year.

...The EPA's focus is Monsanto's YieldGard corn, which is engineered
to produce the Cry3Bb1 protein from Bacillus thuringiensis, or Bt, a natural
insecticide.

The EPA expects to get data on the performance of YieldGard from
Monsanto within two months and complete its analysis by year-end the agency
said in its statement, which was e-mailed by Stacy Kika, an EPA spokeswoman.
The evaluation will include a review of scientific studies, it said.

...The agency may implement 'strategies' to reduce the threat of
resistance to Cry3Bb1, it said. Kika said she couldn't comment on what those
strategies may include."

Considering the fact that YieldGard was introduced less than a decade ago,
in 2003, this could be very bad news for farmers growing genetically
engineered Bt crops everywhere. It really is just a matter of time before
resistance sets in, and it doesn't take very long. Naturally, Monsanto
disagrees – more data is needed to prove their insecticide-fighting corn is
failing, the biotech giant claims.

Roundup-Ready Crops Pose Even Greater Resistance Problem

But YieldGard is just one of Monsanto's problems. Roundup-Ready crops are
creating super-resistant weeds that no longer respond to the herbicide. In
fact, the problem is so bad that 20 million acres of cotton, soybean and corn
have already been invaded by Roundup-resistant weeds.11

To combat the problem, the EPA requires farmers to plant non-modified corn
next to their Bt corn, in the hopes that unexposed bugs will mate with the
resistant rootworms and create a new generation of hybrids that are again
susceptible to the Bt toxin.

However, one has to wonder whether or not it might also work the other way
around. The hybrids may just as well incorporate the resistance... Still,
that's the prevailing logic the EPA is running with at the moment.

Unfortunately, resistant weeds are not the only, or the worst, side effect
of Roundup-Ready crops, genetically engineered to withstand otherwise lethal
doses of glyphosate – the active ingredient in Roundup.

Mounting evidence tells us glyphosate itself may be far more dangerous than
anyone ever suspected... Earlier this month, Purdue scientist Dr. Don Huber
again spoke out about "the woes of GMO's" and the inherent dangers of
glyphosate in an article published by GM Watch.12

"Corn used to be the healthiest plant you could grow. Now, multiple
diseases, pests, and weak plants are the common denominator of 'modern'
hybrids," he writes.

"Over three decades ago we started the shift to a monochemical
glyphosate herbicide program that was soon accompanied by glyphosate- and
insect-resistant genetically engineered crops.

These two changes in agricultural practices – the excessive
application of a strong essential mineral chelating, endocrine-disrupting
chemical for weed control and the genetically engineered production of new
toxins in our food crops – was accompanied by abandonment of years of
scientific research based on the scientific precautionary principle. We
substituted a philosophical 'substantially equivalent,' a new term coined to
avoid accountability for the lack of understanding of consequences of our
new activities, for science."

The Environmental and Human Health Hazards of Glyphosate

I previously interviewed Dr. Huber about the dangers of glyphosate,
and if you missed it, I highly recommend taking the time to listen to it now.
It is indeed sobering, as this broad-spectrum herbicide adds its own health
risks to an already stacked deck of health hazards related to genetically
engineered foods, whether it be Bt- or Roundup-Ready.

Total Video Length: 00:58:12

Download
Interview Transcript

The problem stems from the way glyphosate persists in and alters the soil,
which has wide-ranging ramifications. As a potent organic phosphate chelator,
glyphosate immobilizes micronutrients that are essential for normal
physiological functions not only in soils, but also in growing plants and in
those who eat the plants, namely animals and humans.

The nutritional efficiency of genetically engineered (GE) plants is
profoundly compromised. Far from helping improve nutrition, micronutrients
such as iron, manganese and zinc can be reduced by as much as 80-90 percent in
GE plants! Glyphosate also decimates beneficial microorganisms essential for
proper plant function and high quality nutrition, while promoting the
proliferation of disease-causing pathogens.

"Glyphosate is a very powerful selective antibiotic that
kills beneficial, but not pathogenic, microorganisms in the soil and
intestine at very low residual levels in food," Dr. Huber
writes.13 "Residue levels permitted in food
are 40 to 800 times the antibiotic threshold and concentrations shown in
clinical studies to damage mammalian tissues.

By genetically engineering plants with the insertion of certain
foreign bacterial genes, glyphosate can be applied directly to crop plants
without killing them. There is nothing in the genetic engineering technology
that does anything to the glyphosate that is applied to the plant – and that
accumulates in it. Both the toxic proteins produced by the foreign bacterial
genes and the glyphosate chemical are now present in the feed and food
produced for animal and human consumption.

Genetic engineering has introduced other genes for insect resistance
where additional toxic proteins accumulate in plant tissues consumed by
animals and man. These toxins are found in the blood and readily transferred
across the placenta to developing babies in the womb.

Genetic engineering is more like a virus infection than a
normal breeding process and results in a multitude of mutations and
epigenetic effects as genetic integrity in the plant is disrupted.

These 'foreign' bacterial genes are highly promiscuous and easily
transferred by wind or insects to other plants; to soil microorganisms
during plant residue decomposition, or to intestinal microflora during food
digestion where they continue to direct the production of toxins and
allergenic proteins. Epigenetic effects are manifest in GMO plants
as a yield drag, poor nutrient efficiency, increased disease, and reduced
stress tolerance."

As Dr. Huber warns, scientific studies demonstrate that the assumptions
about genetically engineered crops relied upon by the biotech industry and
ignorant regulators are invalid. The truth of the matter can be
clearly seen in the following effects:

Development of resistant
"super-weeds"

Development of resistant "super-pathogens" and brand
new GE-related organisms

Loss of natural biological controls of pathogens (plant,
animal, and human)

Degradation of soil quality

Reduced crop yields

Reduced nutrient content

Increased
disease and more virulent pathogens

Exponential rise in infertility
and birth defects

Why We Don't Need Genetically Engineered Foods

As stated by Dr. Huber:

"Future historians may well look back upon our time and write, not
about how many pounds of pesticide we did or didn't apply, but by how
willing we are to sacrifice our children and future generations for this
massive genetic engineering experiment that is based on flawed science and
failed promises just to benefit the bottom line of a commercial
enterprise."

The saddest part about the GE debacle is that there's no real need to take
the wild risks we're currently taking with our food supply and our future. For
years, genetically modified crops have been sold as the solution for feeding
the world. But mounting evidence shows the way to feed seven billion plus
inhabitants on this planet is by increasing biodiversity and sustainable
agriculture.

In fact, the most authoritative evaluation of agriculture, the
International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology
for Development,14 determined that the genetically
engineered foods have nothing to offer the goals of reducing hunger and
poverty, improving nutrition, health and rural livelihoods, and facilitating
social and environmental sustainability.

The report was a three-year collaborative effort with 900 participants and
110 countries, and was co-sponsored by all the majors, e.g. the World Bank,
FAO, UNESCO, WHO. In reality, genetic engineering reduce yields,15 increase farmers' dependence on multinationals,
reduce biodiversity, increase herbicide use, and take money away from more
successful and appropriate farming methods.

Hans Johr, a high-ranking executive at the Nestle Company recently went on
the record saying GE food is not only unnecessary, but that the food industry
would be better off employing other techniques.

According to GM Watch:16

"Jonathan Foley, director of the Institute on the Environment at the
University of Minnesota and co-author of a study... on water management and
yield production, agrees with Johr that GMOs are not the answer to food
security. 'I don't think GMOs have contributed, or will likely contribute
much, to food security. Most of the GMO traits are focused on pest and
herbicide resistance, which is arguably a good thing, but are not improving
yield characteristics all that much (at least compared to conventional
breeding, or better yet, marker-assisted breeding).

Furthermore, there are other approaches to managing pests and weeds
that would be equally (or more) effective, like not planting such large
monocultures in the first place...' Johr also went one step further, and
addressed the issue of labeling. 'We [Nestle] have a very simple way of
looking at GM: listen to what the consumer wants. If they don't want it in
products, you don't put it in them...'"

Passing Prop 37 is Key to Expanding Sustainable Agriculture in North
America

Despite Johr's stated view, Nestle has donated nearly $1.17 million to the
"No on 37 Coalition," which is working to prevent the labelling of GE foods in
California. So much for listening to consumers...

Although many organic consumers and natural health activists already
understand the importance of Proposition
37, the California Right to Know Genetically Engineered Foods Act, it
cannot be overemphasized that winning the battle over Prop 37 is perhaps
the most important food fight Americans – not just Californians –
have faced so far. Once food manufacturers can no longer label or market
GE-tainted foods as "natural" or "all-natural," and once all GE ingredients
are clearly marked, millions of consumers will demand non-GE alternatives, and
organic and non-GE food sales will dramatically increase.

But in order to win this fight for the right to know what's in our food, we
need your help, as the biotech industry will surely outspend us by 100 to 1,
if not more, for their propaganda.

Please remember, the failure or success of this ballot initiative is wholly
dependent on your support and funding! There are no major industry
pocketsfunding this endeavor, which was created by a California grandmother.
In order to have a chance against the deep pockets of Big Biotech and
transnational food corporations, it needs donations from average citizens. So
please, if you have the ability, I strongly encourage you to make a donation
to this cause.

It's important to realize that getting this law passed in California would
have the same overall effect as a national law, as large companies are not
likely going to label their products as genetically engineered when sold in
California (the 8th largest economy in the world), but not when sold in other
states. Doing so would be a costly PR disaster. So please, I urge you to get
involved and help in any way you can, regardless of what state you live
in.

Whether you live in California or not, please donate money to this
historic effort through the Organic Consumers
Fund.

If you live in California and want to get involved, please contact CARightToKnow.org. They will go
through all volunteer requests to put you into a position that is suitable
for you, based on your stated interests and location.

No matter where you live, please help spread the word in your personal
networks, on Facebook, and Twitter. For help with the messaging, please see
CARightToKnow.org.

Talk to organic producers and stores and ask them to actively support
the California Ballot. It may be the only chance we have to label
genetically engineered foods.

For timely updates, please join the Organic Consumers Association on Facebook,
or follow them on Twitter.

Tweet

Email

Print

[+] Sources and References

1
Food
and Chemical Toxicology September 19, 2012 [Epub ahead of print]

2
Le
Nouvel Observateur September 19, 2012

3
See ref
1

4
Reuters
September 19, 2012

5
See ref
4

6
CBS
News September 18, 2012

7
The
Cornucopia Institute July 24, 2012

8
See ref
7

9
Bloomberg
BusinessWeek September 5, 2012

10
See ref
1

11
GM
Watch September 3, 2012

12
See ref
1

13
International Assessment of Agricultural
Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development, "Agriculture at a
Crossroads," April 2008

14
Union
of Concerned Scientists, Failure to Yield, March 2009

15
GM
Watch September 2, 2012

Loading Please Wait

Post your comment

[+]
Comments (224)

Previous Article Next Article

Loading Please Wait

Sort Comments by :

Discover the comments that have the most
impact on our readers.

View this article’s most recent comments.

Read your fellow readers’ comments arranged
from oldest to newest.

See what our top posters have to say about
this article.

Post your comment

Previous Article Next Article

Reply to this thread
(2000 Characters
only.)

Characters remaining: * Please enter
your comment!

Edit Your Comment
(2000 Characters only.)

Characters remaining: * Please enter
your comment!

Comment deleted violating the aspect of our terms
of use

Email this article to a friend

Inside Mercola.com:

About Dr.
Mercola

Articles

Contact Us

Dr. Mercola’s
Clinic

En Espanol

Podcasts

Press Room

Shopping Cart

Special
Reports

Video Library

Wholesale
Program

Products:

Air Purifier

Bath Care

Cookware

Dental Care

Feminine Care

Krill Oil

Organic India

Power Plate

Probiotics

Productos

Protein Powder

Skin Care

Tanning Beds

Vision Fitness

Water Filters

All Products

Special Info Sites:

Aspartame

Cancer

Fitness

Fluoride

Fructose/Sugar

GMO

Mercury

Nutritional Typing

Pets

Vaccines

Vitamin D

*
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If
you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition,
consult your physician before using this product.

Disclaimer: The entire contents of this
website are based upon the opinions of Dr. Mercola, unless otherwise noted.
Individual articles are based upon the opinions of the respective author, who
retains copyright as marked. The information on this website is not intended to
replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and
is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and
information from the research and experience of Dr. Mercola and his community.
Dr. Mercola encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon
your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.

†The World's #1 Natural Health Website claim is
based upon Alexa Natural
Health Website rankings.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food
and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure
or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have
a medical condition, consult your physician before using this product.

Privacy Policy | Terms of Use

Disclaimer: The entire contents of this website are based
upon the opinions of Dr. Mercola, unless otherwise noted. Individual articles
are based upon the opinions of the respective author, who retains copyright as
marked. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one
relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as
medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from
the research and experience of Dr. Mercola and his community. Dr. Mercola
encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research
and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.

†The World's #1 Natural Health Website claim is
based upon Alexa Natural
Health Website rankings.

If you want to use this article on your site please click here. This content
may be copied in full, with copyright, contact, creation and information intact,
without specific permission, when used only in a not-for-profit format. If any
other use is desired, permission in writing from Dr. Mercola is required.

© Copyright 1997-2012 Dr. Joseph Mercola. All Rights Reserved.

Please or to
continue.

Save
Options

Private
Favorites (This will appear on your saved articles for later
viewing)

Shared
Favorites (This will appear on your profile as one of your
favorites)