French study on Monsanto GM maize lacks enough scientific quality: EFSA

A recent French study linking Monsanto’s genetically modified maize to health risks in rats does not have sufficient scientific quality to be considered as valid for risk assessment, said the European Food Safety Authority in an initial review.

In September 2012, researchers led by Professor Giles-Eric Seralini at the University of Caen, France, said rats that were fed on Monsanto’s Roundup (glyphosate) or its Roundup-resistant maize NK603 were at higher risk of developing tumours.

EFSA, however, noted in its review that the design, reporting and analysis of the study were inadequate.

The EU regulator also pointed out that such shortcomings mean that it is currently "unable to regard the authors’ conclusions as scientifically sound".

EFSA listed several important issues that had to be resolved before the research could be considered well-conducted.

According to the EU watchdog, the strain of rodents used in the study is prone to developing tumours during their life expectancy and although the rats were divided into ten treatment sets, the researchers established only one control group.

Moreover, OECD guidelines specify a minimum of 50 rats per treatment set, but the study used only ten rodents per set.

The authors did not state any research objectives, which define factors such as study design, sample size, and the statistical methods used to analyse data, all of which are important to make the findings reliable.

They also did not discuss the composition of the food given to the animals, how it was stored and details of harmful substances, EFSA noted.

Given these shortcomings, the EFSA has invited the authors to provide additional information before a second and final review is completed by the end of October 2012.

Meanwhile, Reuters quoted Monsanto as saying that the EFSA’s findings confirmed the positive safety assessments that its products have received from regulatory authorities worldwide.

This study, however, led Russia to impose a temporary restriction on the shipments of NK603, while France is planning to ban imports if the findings are confirmed.

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Image: EFSA noted in the review that the design, reporting and analysis of the French study on Monsato GM maize were inadequate. Photo courtesy of EFSA.