The detrimental health effects of MON 863 corn
GE Free NZ calls on the NZFSA to immediately remove the Mon 863 genetically modified corn that it approved for entry
into the food chain. The NZFSA ignored the information from GE Free NZ when concerns were raised in November 2004. But
today in Germany the courts ordered the release of the confidential controversial report on the subchronic toxicity
effects of a 90 day rat feeding study.
The confidential 1000 page study from the feeding studies on Mon 863 found that the GE corn plant is made with the
Cry3Bb1 insecticide gene, the 35S promoter (Cauliflower mosaic gene) and a neomycin resistance marker gene NPTII
(neomycin phosphotransferase II).
In the feeding studies on rats for 90 days it found there were
* significant changes to the white blood cell counts;
* Inflammation and deformities in the tubules and
* Lower weights of the GE rats kidneys.
* An increase in the glycaemic index in females.
"This highlights the detrimental effects to animal health in the short time they were eating the GE Corn. If these
adverse organ changes are happening to the animals, what is happening to people who eat this food every day? Our food
instead of keeping us healthy will be killing us, we could be seeing a rise in diabetes, kidney malfunctions and immune
deficiency disorders," says Claire Bleakley of GE Free (NZ) in food and environment
Further, Neomycin is used in the control of infections like Streptococci, Pneumococci and Staphylococcus aureus, and is
also used in patients with liver or bowel disease. There is a high concern by the medical profession over the rising
resistance to antibiotics which could be increased through eating food that contain antibiotic resistance markers - like
Mon 863 and the illegal Bt10.
"This blatant disregard for people's health shows that Monsanto is not caring for the people who eat its food, but are
only driven by money and desire for control of the food system," says Claire Bleakley.
"Mon 863 should be withdrawn immediately from the food supply"
Ends
References:
1.Material provided by Doctor Arpad Pusztai for Greenpeace press conference, 22 of June, on MON863
2.Report on MON 863 GM maize produced by MONSANTO Company June 2005. Pr. Gilles-Eric SERALINI,