Monsanto agrees to release results of feeding study

Monsanto said recently that it does not object to the widespread dissemination of the "Pusztai Report" on its controversial 90-day rate feeding studies. Dr. Arpad Pusztai, one of the few independent scientists specializing in plant genetics and animal feeding studies, was asked by the German authoritie in the autumn of 2004 to examine Monsanto’s 1,139-page report on the feeding of MON 863 to laboratory rats over a 90-day period.

The rats fed on genetically modified (GM) maize show statistical difference in kidney weights and certain blood parameters as compared with control groups. A number of scientists across Europe who saw the study expressed concerns about the health and safety implications if MON863 should enter the food chain.

In France, where Prof. Gilles-Eric Seralini of the University of Caen has been trying – without success – for almost 18 months to obtain full disclosure of all documents relating to the MON863 study.

Dr. Pusztai was forced by the German authorities to sign a "declaration of secrecy" before he was allowed to see the rat feeding study, on the grounds that the document is classified as ‘CBI’ (confidential business interest). However, he assumed that this would not prevent the publication of the highlight of any health and safety concerns by the Germans themselves.

In the event, his evaluation was highly critical of the methodology of the study, thereby, expressing concerns over what the researchers had found. These concerns were identical to those of Prof. Seralini and scientists in Germany and elsewhere but the German government refused to publish them and insisted that Dr. Pusztai should respect his "gagging order." So he has been unable to circulate his written materials and unable to speak on the record about what he has found.

The ‘Pusztai Report’ consists of three separate short documents and although Dr. Pusztai himself cannot release them, they have been circulating widely among NGOs and GM scientific community in Europe because they have been examined by all of the European GM regulatory authorities and committees. Leaks could not be prevented and GM free Cymru obtained copies of the documents from the United States, Brussels and Eastern Europe. Since they were already published through the e-mail, they eventually find their way in the Internet being accessible through several web sites.