Page 17 - Spring2010

Caustic Commentary

like bacon and eggs, scientists have discovered that they SETBACK FOR MONSANTO
might not be such a bad thing after all. Bacon and especially After planning for income of several billion dollars from
eggs are a rich source of choline. A team of researchers at so-called “second generation” genetically modified seeds,
the University of North Carolina have added to a large body Monsanto withdrew its application for approval of two GM
of research showing that choline plays a crucial role in brain corn varieties in April 2009. Under conditions of secrecy,
development. Plentiful choline in a pregnant woman’s diet Monsanto subsidiary Renessen informed the European Food
helps the fetal brain develop regions associated with memory. Safety Authority (EFSA) that it no longer wishes to pursue
In fact, a lack of choline in the diet of pregnant mice led to application for two varieties of corn designed to accelerate
changes in gene expression so that new brain cells could not the growth rate of animals. Renessen cited “decreased com-
be formed (Science Daily, January 4, 2010). “We may never mercial value worldwide” as the reason for withdrawal, but
be able to call bacon a health food with a straight face, but scientists who have followed the application process believe
the emerging field of epigenetics is already making us rethink the real reason is safety. Although the two varieties were ap-
those things that we consider healthful and unhealthful,” said proved in the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand, the
Gerald Weissmann, MD, editor-in-chief of the FASEB Jour- concerns of several European countries forced EFSA to take
nal, which published the report. “This is yet another example a close look at the applicant’s supporting studies. The dossiers
showing that good prenatal nutrition is vitally important included rigged research and false assumptions in the reported
throughout a child’s entire lifetime.” More to the point, this experiments; failure to offer any test results based on cooked
is yet another tragic example of the law of unintended con- or processed corn; failure to test the whole GM plant in feeding
sequences, as the cholesterol theory of heart disease has led trials; confusing and contradictory characterizations of the
to an epidemic of learning disorders in the young and mental GM varieties and proteins; fraudulent mixing of GM strains
decline in the elderly. during trials; pooling of crop data so as to mask undesirable
effects in experiments; feeding trials too short to reveal true
CAROTENE CONVERSION physiological changes in animal tissues; and the choice of an
A recurring theme in these pages is a debunking of the myth irrevelant, unrelated corn variety as the control group for com-
that fruits and vegetables containing carotenes can supply parison with the GM lines, with the clear intention of hiding
adequate vitamin A in human diets. The enzyme responsible potentially serious differences in composition or side effects
for the conversion of beta-carotene to vitamin A is called on animals. Fortunately, these toxic strains of GM corn do
beta-carotene 15,15’-monoxgenase (BCOM1). Scientists from not appear to have been grown or commercialized anywhere
Newcastle University have found that almost 50 percent of in the world (www.cornucopia.org, February 10, 2010).
females have a genetic variation that reduces their ability to
convert beta-carotene. “Vitamin A is incredibly important. .
. ,” notes Dr. Georg Lietz, who participated in the study. “It FOR SCIENTISTS AND LAY READERS
boosts our immune system and reduces the risk of inflamma-
tion such as that associated with chest infections. What our Please note that the mission of the Weston A. Price
research shows is that many women are simply not getting Foundation is to provide important information about diet
enough of this vital nutrient because their bodies are not able and health to both scientists and the lay public. For this
to convert the beta-carotene.” Here we have one more incident reason, some of the articles in Wise Traditions are neces-
sarily technical. It is very important for us to describe the
of the law of unintended consequences. “Worryingly, younger science that supports the legitimacy of our dietary prin-
women are at particular risk,” said Leitz. “The older genera- ciples. In articles aimed at scientists and practitioners, we
tions tend to eat more eggs, milk and liver, which are naturally provide a summary of the main points and also put the
rich in vitamin A, whereas the health-conscious youngsters most technical information in sidebars. These articles are
on low-fat diets are relying heavily on the beta-carotene form balanced by others that provide practical advice to our
of the nutrient” (Science Daily, November 18, 2009). lay readers.

SPRING 2010 Wise Traditions 17