The results of the study have questioned the safety of GMO crops

The results of this study have stoked widespread debates about the safety of GMO crops. People who have criticized the results have come up with several points. According to them, the control group consisted of only 20 rats. They feel that the size of the control group was way too small and ideally it should be a 50-50 split between the test and the control groups. In other words, for every 100 rats in the test group, there should be another 100 rats in the control group. When the size of the control group is so small, the results can be due to chance.

Moreover, the breed of rats chosen for the research was virgin albino Sprague-Dawley rats. This breed of rats is known for its propensity to develop tumors. So, one cannot be sure whether the high rate of tumors in the rats used in the research was because of the GM corn or because of the natural tendency of these rats to develop tumors.

The European Food Standards Agency has published a review of the study in which it states that the study did not meet the acceptable scientific standards. Therefore, there is no need to raise question marks over the previous safety evaluations of Monsanto Roundup ready GMO corn. The agency has also asked the Food and Chemical Toxicology Journal to retract the study.

However, this has not satisfied everybody. Many critics feel that the US FDA showed undue haste in labeling the GMOs as safe for human consumption. The companies producing these crops are under no obligation to conduct long term studies to test the safety of GMOs.  All the studies conducted by these companies have been of a limited duration, none is longer than 90 days. Therefore, the long term effects of consuming such products have never been studied. Even in the present study, the deleterious effects appeared only after four months of the study.

Moreover, the companies hold patent power over the seeds of the GM crops. So, the researchers have limited access to these seeds to test them independently.

In the US, almost 80% of all the conventional processed food contains GMOs. With the steady increase seen in the number of patients suffering from pancreatic and kidney cancers, metabolic syndrome, diabetes and food allergies, people have started wondering whether this can be attributed to GMOs. More and more number of people are demanding that the labels on the food products should clearly state whether they contain GMOs, and that the people should have the liberty to decide for themselves whether they want to consume GMOs or not. How many of these demands will be met, only time can tell. Till then, hope and pray that the food you and your family members are consuming is safe.