In response to the study, Monsanto said the results were not significant, because the development of tumors in the GM fed rats were “within historical norms for this strain of laboratory rats, which is known for a high incidence of tumors.” In short, the biotech giant attributed the tumors to the rats’ genetics. What is ironic is that Monsanto conducted a similar study of a much shorter duration, 90 days, which enabled their NK 603 Roundup-tolerant GM maize to be approved by the EFSA, explained Mike Adams, author of the new book Food Forensics: The Hidden Toxins Lurking in Your Food and How You Can Avoid Them for Lifelong Health.
The problem is the rate of tumor growth was significantly different between the GMO-fed rats and the control group. Although tumors did develop in both groups, tumors among the GMO-fed rats were more prevalent and aggressive than the control group.
“This is a basic principle of science and it is worrying that attempts are being made by pro-GM lobbyists to override it in the interests of keeping the products of powerful multinational biotechnology companies on the market,” reads a public briefing made by the food sustainability nonprofit Earth Open Source.
The briefing also noted that using “historical data” to disregard statistically relevant data is junk science and rejected by serious scientists. Real scientific studies almost always have a control group and an experimental group to observe differences between the two populations, and to make sure those differences are due to the tested variable at hand.
“The use of historical control data is an unscientific strategy used by industry and some regulators to dismiss statistically significant findings of toxicity in … studies intended to evaluate safety of pesticides, chemicals, and GMOs,” the briefing states.
Seralini’s long-term study linking glyphosate to rat tumors was unfortunately retracted from the journal Food and Chemical Toxicology due to pressure from Monsanto lobbyists. The results of the study have since been republished in Environmental Sciences Europe.