Controversial Rat Study

It’s tough in the research world. It can be even tougher and nastier when the research involves genetically modified foods. So perhaps it comes as no surprise that sometimes the science is helped along a little, as in the case of the anti-gmo report published in the the Food and Chemical Toxicology Journal in September of 2012. The study by a French researcher suggested that genetically modified corn caused tumors in rats. It has since then been retracted by the Journal; due to the huge number of scientists around the world who questioned the study’s research methodology, citing the small sample size, the use of cancer prone rats, and the lack of any real definitive conclusions. Basically, the study did not meet acceptable scientific standards. In its retraction the Journal said that “the retraction comes after a thorough and time consuming analysis of the published article and the data it reports, along with investigation into the peer review behind the article”. Seralini, the author of the study, and the founding director of the Committee for Research and Independent Information on Genetic Engineering, says he is considering suing the Journal over the retraction to require financial compensation for the damage done to his groups’ reputation.