Sean Poulter
Daily Mail, 25 September 2012
http://www.gmwatch.org/latest-listing/51-2012/14234
[extracts only] Russia has suspended the import and use of an American GM corn following a study suggesting a link to breast cancer and organ damage.
The decision by Russia could be followed by other nations in what would be a severe blow to the take-up of the controversial technology.
In the past week, pro-GM scientists have been lining up to undermine the French experiments and criticise the way they were conducted. However, a number of independent academics have praised the French team’s work, describing it as the most thorough and extensive feeding trials involving GM to date.
Mustafa Djamgoz, the Professor of Cancer Biology, at Imperial College, London, said the findings relating to eating GM corn were a ‘surprise’. Prof Djamgoz, who describes himself as a neutral on GM, said: “The results are significant. The experiments are, more or less, the best of their kind to date.”
However, he said that it is now important to ensure they are repeated with more animals by independent laboratories to confirm the outcome.
“We are not scaremongering here. More research, including a repetition of this particular study are warranted,” he said.
This is modest progress. Indeed we need more independent studies by scientists with an impeccable reputation to prove the harmfullness of GMOs beyond any shadow of doubt.