A study released on Wednesday purporting to show that
genetically modified (GM) corn can cause tumors and death in rats was panned by
many scientists. But that does not mean it won't have political
impact—especially in France, where the study was carried out and where it has
garnered massive media attention.
Yesterday, French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault announced
that the High Council for Biotechnology (HCB) and the Agency for Food,
Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety have been asked to look into
the study, headed by Gilles-Eric Séralini of the University of Caen and
published by Food and Chemical Toxicology this week. If the results are
confirmed, Ayrault said at a meeting in Dijon, agriculture minister Stéphane Le
Foll would defend France's right within the European Union to ban GM crops.
Three committees in France's National Assembly will invite Séralini for
hearings, Le Figaro reported yesterday.
journal reference: science direct >>