French researchers report adverse health effects from GM cornA recently published research study by French scientists claims to have found a number of adverse health effects in rats fed with a diet containing three commercial GM maize varieties (NK 603, MON 810 & MON 863), all of which are cultivated and may be present in food and animal feed.
The study, conducted by research group CRIIGEN and two French universities, involved feeding rats with the GM maize varieties over a 14-week period and measuring around 60 biochemical parameters in serum and urine for comparison with control groups fed with non-GM maize. The results reportedly show what are described as "new side effects linked with GM maize consumption" for all three varieties, which were "sex- and often dose-related." These effects were mostly seen in liver and kidney function, but differed between the three GM maize varieties.
The study's authors suggest that the effects they observed could be due to the pesticides present in each type - NK 603 is 'Roundup ready' and could contain herbicide residues, while the other two both contain the BT insecticidal toxin. However, they also state that, "unintended direct or indirect metabolic consequences of the genetic modification cannot be excluded." They go on to warn that the consequences of long-term consumption of these GM maize varieties are "currently unknown" and they that recommend long-term feeding studies in several species are needed to provide data on the possible toxic effects of GM crops.
The report is published in the International Journal of Biological Sciences (2009; 5(7); 706-26) and can be found in full on-line at the link below.
http://www.biolsci.org/v05p0706.htm
Urinary tract infections may be linked to contaminated chickenA new study conducted by researchers in Canada has found "strong evidence" that some strains of E. coli causing urinary tract infections (UTI) in young women may be foodborne and linked to consumption of contaminated chicken.
The research team, lead by Amee Manges of McGill University, examined E. coli isolates from retail meat, restaurant/ready-to-eat foods and women with UTI taken in Montreal between 2005 and 2007 and discovered that strains indistinguishable from those isolated from human clinical samples could also be found in retail chicken and in honeydew melon.
The study's authors conclude that this is strong evidence for foodborne transmission of E. coli strains involved in UTI. These bacteria do not cause illness in the human gut, but can be transferred to the urethra in women.
The study report can be found in the online journal Emerging Infectious Diseases at the link below.
http://www.cdc.gov/eid/content/16/1/88.htm
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