Biotech Updates

Long Term Toxicity Study of GM Rice with Two Insect Resistant Genes Shows No Adverse Health Effects

November 13, 2013

A long term study conducted by China's National Institute for Nutrition and Food Safety showed that genetically modified rice does not cause adverse health effects when fed to rats. The authors of the study randomly selected 180 rats and split them into three groups: the first group was fed rice containing two genes, Cry1Ac and sck, that give rise to insecticidal proteins. The second was given non-GM rice, and the third was fed a control diet. The authors monitored the rats' body weight, food consumption and blood chemistry. After 78 weeks, the rats consuming the GM rice expressed no adverse health effects, the authors conclude.

The results of the study are published in the journal Food and Chemical Toxicology, available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2013.10.035.