1. Judyta Blaszczyk
GM Foods and Cancer
Is there a link?

2. Structure of presentation
1. What is ‘GM’?
2. Potential risks for human health
3. Experiment on rats fed with
GM maize
4. Food labelling
5. Conclusions
6. Resources
7. Q&A 2

3. What is ‘GM’?
Inserting genetic material into DNA
Examples: ‘super pigs’ with human growth
genes, fish with cattle growth genes
Switching
on/off certain genes
Examples: ripening fruits
>70% of processed foods
include GM ingredients
3
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3711507.stm

4. Risks
 WHO (2012)
‘G Mfo o d s c urre ntly a va ila ble o n the inte rna tio na l m a rke t ha ve
p a s s e d ris k a s s e s s m e nts a nd a re not likely to present risks for
human health. I a d d itio n, no effects on human health ha ve be e n
n
s ho wn a s a re s ult o f the c o ns um p tio n o f s uc h fo o d s by the g e ne ra l
p o p ula tio n in the c o untrie s whe re the y ha ve be e n a p p ro ve d . ’
BUT
 no rigorous, long-term safety testing carried out
 unexpected effects on gut bacetria
 Animal tests - worrying health effects
4

5. The Experiment
rats fed for two years on:
3 concentrations of non-GM maize
GM maize
30%
male, 20%
50% male, 70% female died
female died earlier some also
Palpable tumours developed tumours
Kidney disease and but later than the first
liver disease more group
common
5

6. Food
Labelling
84286 GM
95413 organic
8235 conventionally grown
http://www.gmo-compass.org/features/zoomimage.php?
image=/data/imagescontent/regulation/050_dressing_label_zoom.jpg&width=500&height=332 6

7. Conclusions
no data showing that GM is not
harmful
be up-to-date with EU food
regulations
more research needed in this field
7

8. Resources
 Séralini G, Clair E, Mesnage R et al. Long term toxicity of a Roundup herbicide and a
Roundup-tolerant genetically modified maize. Food and Chemical Toxicology.
 Published online September 19 2012
 http://gefoodlabels.org/2012/10/04/center-for-food-safety-releases-new-genetically-
engineered-food-labeling-law-map/#more-240
 http://www.saynotogmos.org/10reasons_need.pdf
 http://www.food.gov.uk/policy-advice/gm/gm_labelling
 http://www.food.gov.uk/policy-advice/gm/basics/
8

9. Thank you very much
for your attention!
http://inhabitat.com/people-of-california-to-vote-on-gmo-labels-for-genetically-modified-foods-this-novemeber/

10. Thank you very much
for your attention!
http://inhabitat.com/people-of-california-to-vote-on-gmo-labels-for-genetically-modified-foods-this-novemeber/