Press release

Scientists expose "junk science" behind genetically modified corn approvals

Toronto -- Greenpeace today released a scientific report exposing the "junk science" behind the approvals of genetically modified crops, and renewed its call for cereal giant Kellogg's to withdraw genetically modified organisms (GMOs) from its products.

The 70-page report by EcoStrat, a Swiss consultancy specializing in ecological assessments of biotechnology, reveals that the data submitted by food biotech companies came from such poorly designed studies that there was virtually no chance that adverse ecological effects could be observed.

The report reviewed five laboratory studies on the effects of Novartis Bt corn on beneficial organisms prepared for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and European regulatory officials, and 23 other laboratory and field studies. Greenpeace has forwarded the study to Kellogg's president Phillip Donne.

Greenpeace GMO campaigner Michael Khoo said, "We now know that the approval of this genetically modified corn was based on false assumptions and shoddy methodology. Kellogg's has no defence using food they now know has not been properly tested."

In the analysis of data submitted to regulators, EcoStrat found:

* None used appropriate feeding methods or demonstrated that the Bt toxin in the corn was ever actually ingested by the target species.

* Only one study tested for long-term exposure to the genetically engineered "Bt toxin". In this study, higher mortality and lower rates of reproduction were observed in the non-target organism. The researchers carrying out the study attempted to dismiss the significance of this result, and given that the Bt corn variety was approved by regulators, this result seems not to have had any significance for the regulators either.

* None considered effects of the genetically engineered Bt toxin in the food chain -- the indirect effects that occur as a result of interactions among insects feeding on Bt crops and their natural enemies.

* Studies were modeled on tests used to assess the acute toxicity of industrial chemicals in the environment--none were designed to assess the risks to non-target organisms and the environment of chronic, long- term exposure to the Bt toxin in genetically modified corn which behaves very differently from industrial chemicals.

Given the poor quality of these trials, it is unlikely the industry studies would have been accepted by a peer reviewed journal

While the Ecostrat report is based on tests conducted for U.S. and European regulators, similar weaknesses have been found in the only publicly available application submitted to Canadian regulators. Despite these flawed methodologies, the Canadian government has deemed GM crops safe for unconfined release.

The full report is available online at: http://www.greenpeacecanada.org/publications/ge/hillbeckreport.pdf

Comment by PSRAST

Release studies are difficult and need very careful design covering all potential organisms and ecosystems that might be affected. The knowledge about environmental effects of GE organisms is very incomplete. For this reason, in our opinion no releases at all are justified at this stage of knowledge. See further "Is there sufficient knowledge about environmental effects to justify release of GE organisms?"