Noxiousness to the Organism

Genetically modified Corn was in the news this week, Big Time! A study in the International Journal of Biological Sciences proves the toxicity of three varieties of genetically modified corn to mammalian health. Yikes! This study is a comparative analysis of blood and organ system data from trials with rats fed three main commercialized genetically modified (GM) maize (NK 603, MON 810, MON 863), which are present in food and feed in the world.
I first read about this yesterday in an article published by Truthout and then I went on to read the actual research paper.

"For the first time in the world, we've proven that GMO are neither sufficiently healthy nor proper to be commercialized. [...] Each time, for all three GMOs, the kidneys and liver, which are the main organs that react to a chemical food poisoning, had problems," indicated Gilles-Eric Séralini, an expert member of the Commission for Biotechnology Reevaluation, created by the EU in 2008.

Liver and Kidneys! These are our detox organs. Their primary function is to expel toxins that result from the body's metabolism of food and drink. In this way they support the overall health of the body. When the liver and kidney are compromised, we have major problems.
This research looks at the Monsanto research which was only conducted for 90 days.

Caen and Rouen University researchers, as well as Criigen researchers, based their analyses on the data supplied by Monsanto to health authorities to obtain the green light for commercialization, but they draw different conclusions after new statistical calculations. According to Professor Séralini, the health authorities based themselves on a reading of the conclusions Monsanto has presented and not on conclusions drawn from the totality of the data. The researchers were able to obtain complete documentation following a legal decision.

Our family has been concerned about these genetically modified foods for quite some time. I was troubled and started asking questions when I learned that one of the "benefits" of GMO's is that the genetic modification makes the crop  "Round-up Ready" (resistant to Round-up, a serious pesticide). So the crop can be sprayed with Round-up to kill competing weeds while leaving the corn "un-harmed". I find this alarming! The amount of pesticide residue in these crops must be monumental.
Organic is not allowed to be genetically modified. So we buy organic. Corn is in so much processed food. Read Michael Pollan's book, The Omnivore's Dilemma, for many reasons but the "Story of Corn" will change your life! or at least the way you look at corn.

The researchers conclusion:

These substances have never before been an integral part of the human or animal diet and therefore their health consequences for those who consume them, especially over long time periods are currently unknown. Furthermore, any side effect linked to the GM event will be unique in each case as the site of transgene insertion and the spectrum of genome wide mutations will differ between the three modified maize types. In conclusion, our data presented here strongly recommend that additional long-term (up to 2 years) animal feeding studies be performed in at least three species, preferably also multi-generational, to provide true scientifically valid data on the acute and chronic toxic effects of GM crops, feed and foods. Our analysis highlights that the kidneys and liver as particularly important on which to focus such research as there was a clear negative impact on the function of these organs in rats consuming GM maize varieties for just 90 days.

These substances are currently approved for consumption. My advice: ask questions, read labels, eat local, grow your own and don't believe that something is safe just because it has been approved.