Research linking GM maize to cancer rejected

2013/11/29 Galarraga Aiestaran, Ana - Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Osasuna
• Bioteknologia
• Nekazaritza

The editor of the journal Food and Chemical Toxicology has asked the author to remove the research that showed that transgenic maize was a cancer factor.

In September of last year, this same magazine published a great debate and concern. Under the title "Long term toxicity of a Roundup herbicide and a Roundup-tolpdte genetically modified maize", the journal EFSA, the European agency in charge of food security, immediately announced that the research had significant methodological errors, no action was taken. Now, however, the editor of the magazine, Wallace Hayes, has sent a letter to the head of research to ask Gilles-Eric Seralini to remove the article. In case of disobedience to the request, the magazine itself has warned that it will withdraw it.

In the letter he reminded Seralini of the research errors, such as the fact that the type of rat used has a spontaneous tendency to develop cancer and that the sample was too small. In fact, EFSA itself also mentioned these errors in the report published last year, among others. However, in statements to the newspaper Le Figaro, Seralini maintains his own and denounces that Monsanto, producer of transgenic corn, is behind the request for withdrawal of the article.