Whole GM BT Toxins Found in Human & Foetal Blood

New research from Canada has found a Bt toxin produced by GM insect resistant crops in the blood of women and evidence that it was passed to foetuses.

 Bt toxin as detected by the researchers is present in Mon 810 maize, which has EU cultivation approval but is currently banned in France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Luxemburg and Greece. Twenty-four types of GM maize and cotton containing Bt GM traits have been granted approval for importing into the EU and one can be grown (Mon810 maize). 

 Regulators advise that no GM protein survives intact in the intestinal tract to enter the blood stream, so the detection of intact Cry1Ab toxin in human blood is of great significance.

 Pesticides used on GM herbicide tolerant (HT) crops were also detected.

 This study was carried out by a team at Sherbrooke University Hospital in Quebec and has been accepted for publication in the peer reviewed journal Reproductive Toxicology.

 The team took blood samples from 30 pregnant women prior to delivery, 30 samples from umbilical cords immediately after birth and samples from 39 non-pregnant women who were undergoing treatment. All the women were of a similar age and body mass index, and none worked with pesticides or lived with anyone who did.

 The results show that the toxic Bt protein Cry1Ab was present in blood serum from all three sources (93% of pregnant women, 80% in umbilical blood and 67% of non-pregnant women). The researchers suggest that the most probable source of the toxin is GM food consumed as part of a normal diet in Canada, where GM presence in food is unlabelled. The Canadian scientists have not speculated on any health effects from the presence of Cry1Ab protein as this was beyond the scope of their study.

 The findings add to concerns about the toxicity and potential allergenicty (having the capacity to induce allergy) of Bt proteins expressed by many scientists.

  The researchers also looked for, and found, two herbicides used on GM herbicide tolerant crops in blood samples. Glyphosate is used on Monsanto Roundup Ready (RR) crops and Glufosinate on Bayer’s Liberty Link (LL) crops. Both were found in the non-pregnant women, as was glufosinate’s metabolite 3-MMPA.

 Safety concerns about both products have been growing since the introduction of GM herbicide tolerant crops, including links to Parkinson’s disease and cancer in the case of  glyphosate.

 Proventus does not hold a view about GM foodstuffs. However, given that more women than men suffer from autoimmune disease and a substantial number of these women are between 17 and 35 years, their child bearing years, a degree of concern must be raised as to the possible long term effect on a child who may already have a propensity to inherit their parent / parent’s diseases.

An autoimmune disease such as multiple sclerosis. Genetic factors clearly influence the risk of developing MS, as MS can “run” in families. Genetics & Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis - website page

 You will recall that we asked you to write to MPs and MEPs demanding Government action on the new Canadian study finding whole GM Bt toxnis in human and foetal blood - a finding that contradicts EFSA and FSA advice saying this can't happen.

 GM Freeze has written to all major UK supermarkets informing them of this new study and that we have written to the UK Government demanding action. We also asked them to take action on a number of points.

 It would be very valuable for you to write to supermarkets now as customers repeating those demands. (Full details and background available at the link.) - write to your supermarkets

Government Backs High Security GM Test Sites

The Coalition Government has today put its support behind conducting GM field trials on high security sites.

In their response to a House of Commons Science and Technology Committee Report [1], the Government rejected the proposal to keep the location of GM sites secret but stated, “Government is ready to facilitate the hosting of any trials at suitable sites that could provide greater security than might otherwise be the case.” Full report - GM Freeze - webpage

 Source

GM Freeze - webpage

GM Watch - webpage

Ref

Aziz A. and Leblanc S., 2010, Reproductive Toxicology, accepted 13 February 2011 Currently available online or from GM Freeze.

GM Freeze media briefing

Seralini G-E., Mesnage R. Clair E., Greese S., Spiroux de Vendômois J.ann Cellier D., 2010. Environmental Sciences Europe 2011, 23:10

FSA gmfoods
GMO Compass

Benachour N and Séralini G-E, 2009. Glyphosate Formulations Induce Apoptosis and Necrosis in Human Umbilical, Embryonic, and Placental Cells, Chemical Research in Toxicology Vol22 No1 pp 97-105