Global Research Consortium Presents Findings on Safety of Genetically Modified Food
24 January 2012
A three year feeding study has shown no adverse
health effects in pigs fed genetically modified (GM)
maize. The maize, which is a Bt-maize bred for its
insect resistant properties, was sourced from Spain.
The results were one of the key findings of trials
conducted as part of the GMSAFOOD consortium
undertaking post market monitoring: long term,
generational and food chain studies to test food
safety.
The research team conducted short-term (31 days),
medium-term (110 days) and generational pig feeding
studies where the health of piglets of sows fed
Bt-maize is measured. No adverse effects were
observed, suggesting that feeding Bt-maize to pigs
of different ages is safe. “These findings can
offer some assurance to consumers as to the safety
of consuming Bt-maize,” Peadar Lawlor, senior
researcher at Teagasc, Animal and Grassland Research
and Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Ireland, said;
“The pig is considered to be an excellent model for
humans due to similarities in gastrointestinal
anatomy and physiology. Similar responses to
Bt-maize consumption could be expected in humans,”
he said.
In addition to testing for any unforeseen adverse
effects, the researchers were also looking for
biomarkers (fragments of DNA) associated with immune
responses which could be used for predicting immune
response to future genetically modified organisms
(GMOs). The GMSAFOOD consortium, funded by the
European Commission, brings together researchers
from Austria, Ireland, Norway, Hungry, Turkey and
Australia.
These results and findings from other GMSAFOOD
research teams will be presented at the GMSAFOOD
conference at the Medical University of Vienna,
Austria 6-8 March 2012. These include:
- Salmon feeding trials (Norway)
- Investigation of protracted allergenic response in
mice feeding trials (Austria)
- Food chain trials where rats were fed pork and
fish which had been raised on Bt-maize (Norway and
Hungary)