conscious consumption 191
became obvious that the fertility of GM corn – fed mice was seri-
ously impaired; they produced fewer offspring than did mice con-
suming GM - free corn. In multigenerational trials, mice fed GM
corn also had fewer offspring in the third and fourth generations,
whereas mice fed GM - free corn reproduced more rapidly. The trials
also determined that there was a statistically signifi cant decrease
in litter weight in the third and fourth generations in the GM - fed
group when compared to the control group.
An independent research study published in the peer - reviewed
Archives of Environmental Contamination and Technology dem-
onstrated that rats that were fed Monsanto ’ s MON863 maize
for ninety days showed “ signs of toxicity ” in the liver and the
kidneys.
In another study, mice were fed GM potatoes that had an
added bacterial gene to produce an insecticide called Bt - toxin.
Scientists analyzed the ileums of their small intestines and found
abnormal and damaged cells, as well as proliferative cell growth.
In a different study, rats that were fed GM potatoes engineered to
produce another insecticide (GNA lectin) also showed prolifera-
tive cell growth in the stomach and the intestinal walls. Note that
excessive cell proliferation can be a precursor to cancer.
Several farmers have reported that when given the choice, ani-
mals avoid feeding from crops that have been genetically engineered.
Jeffery Smith introduced us to a farmer named Howard Vlieger, who
fi lled up one side of a sixteen - foot feeding trough with Bt corn and
non - GM corn on the other. When Vlieger ’ s cows were let out of the
pen to feed, he was shocked to fi nd that they all congregated around
the one side of the trough containing non - GM corn. Another farmer
in Illinois conducted a similar experiment by planting GM soybeans
on one half of his fi eld. He, too, found that geese ate only from the
side of the fi eld that had non - GM soybeans.
Although we may not have yet developed our sixth sense, or
deeper knowing, to alert us about which foods are GM and which
are not, as the animals in these studies apparently have, choosing
organic foods can dramatically help us avoid GM foods in our diet.
We desperately need traceability to hold agribusiness companies