Journal or Publishing Institution: Agrarian Russia
Author(s): Ermakova, I.
Article Type: Report
Record ID: 627
Abstract:
The analysis of the relevant part of the Institute of Nutrition Report showed that the studies were not carried out according to the accepted protocols for the biomedical assessment of GM food and feed (1). Many of the conclusions drawn by the authors do not correspond to the obtained data and therefore they are incorrect.
Two types of Russet Burbank potatoes – the GM potatoes (GM-RB) and potatoes bred by traditional methods (RB) were sent to the Institute of Nutrition by Monsanto for feeding studies. Experiments were conducted only on small groups of animals: 10 rats in each group, which is absolutely inadequate for such vital studies. In the course of the experiments some rats perished, and the data were given only for the surviving groups of 8 and sometimes even of 6 animals. Serious morphological changes in internal organs were observed in rats when they were fed Russet Burbank potatoes (both the GM-RB and RB varieties), which were added to the ration of animals in boiled form. Changes in the liver, kidneys, and large gut; reduction in hemoglobin; strengthening diuresis; and changes in the mass of heart and prostate gland and others were observed. In the course of the first month of feeding, animals showed reduced body mass in comparison with the control group. The strongest changes in the organs were discovered in rats fed by the GM-RB potatoes. Both types of Russet Burbank potatoes (RB and GM-RB) were dangerous for animals. The genetically-modified potatoes GM-RB were especially toxic. However, the Institute of Nutrition concluded that “the studied types of potatoes can be used in human nourishment for the conduct of further epidemiological studies”, i.e. during the study of the clinical picture of diseases and their distribution among the human population.
Data on pathological changes in the organs and biochemical parameters in the rats fed on Russet Burbank potatoes (RB and GM-RB), in comparison with the rats without potatoes in the control group, are given in the next section.
Keywords: Rat, Rodent, Feeding, GM potatoes, Genetically modified potato, GM feed
Citation: Ermakova, I., 2005. Conclusion to the report about feeding of rats by genetically modified potatoes Russet Burbank. Agrarian Russia, pp.62-64.
