Weight of the evidence: independent research projects confirm industry conclusions on the safety of insect-protected maize MON 810

Figures & data

Table 1. Toxic substances present in safely consumed foods.^16.

Toxin	Crop(s)	Effect(s)
Β-Thujone	Sage, Clary, Wormwood/absinthe	GABA Cl- channel blockade; CNS effects, convulsions
Prussic Acid (cyanide from cyanogenic glycosides)	Peach, Apple, Cherry Pits	Cellular oxygen depravation, necrosis, tissue damage; rapid breathing, trembling, incoordination, respiratory/cardiac arrest
Prussic Acid (cyanide from cyanogenic glycosides)	Cassava (improperly processed)	Demyelination of the optic, auditory, and peripheral nerves; “tropical ataxic neuropathy”
Hyperforin and Hypericin	St. John’s Wort	Inhibition of serotonin (5-HT) reuptake; serotonin syndrome. Hyperforin induces CYP3A4 and CYP2C9. Photosensitization and liver damage.
Goitrogens (glucosinolates)	Spinach, Cassava, Peanuts, Soybeans, Strawberries, Sweet Potatoes, Peaches, Pears, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage, Canola, Cauliflower, Mustard Greens, Radishes, and Rapeseed	Interfere with iodine uptake; suppress thyroid function, thyroid enlargement (goiter)
Erucic Acid in Rape	Rape (annual herb of the mustard family)	Rapeseed oil increased adrenal cholesterol and caused cardiac lipidosis in rats. Similar impact to domestic fowl.
Furocoumarins	Citrus fruits, Parsnip, Parsley, Celery, and Carrots	DNA adducts and crosslinks in presence of UV light; mutations, chromosome aberrations, and cell death. Bergamot inhibits CYP3A4 and is phototoxic.
Amylase Inhibitors	Wheat, Rye, and Kidney Beans	Reduction of blood glucose after starch ingestion. α-Amylase inhibitor protein is an allergen linked to “baker’s asthma disease.” Some food allergies.
Lectins	Legumes (black beans, soybeans, lima beans, kidney beans, and lentils)	Glycoproteins bind red blood cells and mucosa of small intestine; intestinal malabsorption. Rodent growth retardation and death. Ricin from castor bean is a lectin associated with bioterrorism.
Anti-thiamine Compounds (Thiaminase)	Fish, Crab, Clams, Blueberries, Black Currants, Red Beets, Brussel sprouts, and Red Cabbage	Renders thiamine biologically inactive. Thiamine deficiency: weakness, weight loss, cardiac enlargement, anorexia, and ataxia.
Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids (PAs)	Comfrey root and leaf, Coltsfoot leaf and flower, and Borage leaf	Hepatotoxic, mutagenic, teratogenic and/or carcinogenic. PAs converted to pyrroles; found in liver, can travel to lungs causing pulmonary hypertension.
Oxalic acid	Rhubarb, Tea, Spinach, Parsley, Purslane, Asparagus, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Collards, Lettuce, Celery, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Turnips, Beets, Peas, Coffee, Cocoa, Beans, Potatoes, Berries, and Carrots	Binds calcium and other minerals, decreasing bioavailability. High dietary doses cause vomiting, diarrhea, decreased bone growth, renal toxicity, coagulopathy, and coma
Cucurbitacins	Zucchini, Cucumbers, Pumpkins, Squash, Melons, and Gourds	Stomach cramps and diarrhea; deaths reported from ingestion of bitter zucchini
Coumarins	Tonka Beans, Melilot, Woodruff, Oil of Bergamot, and Cassia	Molds in spoiled sweet clover metabolize coumarin to dicoumarol; inhibits vitamin K synthesis, hemorrhage/death in cattle. Chronic high doses cause liver and lung tumors in rodents.
Phytates (Phytic Acid)	Bran, Germ of plant seeds, Grains, Legumes (Soybean), Nuts	Chelator of divalent cations. Reduces mineral bioavailability, inhibits digestive enzymes. Mineral deficiencies, decreased starch, reduced protein digestibility.
Hypoglycin	Ackee	Alkaloids hypoglycin A and B in unripe fruit. Hypoglycin toxin causes inhibition of gluconeogenesis, drowsiness, vomiting, delirium, fever, loose bowels, coma and death
Safrole	Oils of Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Camphor, and Sassafras	Weight loss, testicular atrophy, bone marrow depletion, and malignant liver tumors in rats. Possible human carcinogen.
Myristicin	Nutmeg, Mace, Black Pepper, Carrot, Celery, Parsley, Dill	Weak inhibitor of monoamine oxidase. Psychotropic effects in humans; decreased alertness, euphoria, nausea, tremor, tachycardia, and anxiety
Tomatine	Leaves, stems, and unripe fruit of the Tomato plant	Toxic to a variety of fungi. Forms complex with membrane sterols, causing membrane disruption.
Anisatin, Neoanisatin, and Sesquiterpene Lactone Veranisatin	Japanese Star Anise	Potent neurotoxins. Symptoms include jitteriness, vomiting, seizures, and rapid eye movement
Glycoalkaloids (Solanine and Chaconine)	Potatoes, Eggplant, Apple, Bell Peppers, Cherries, Sugar Beets, and Tomatoes	Highest levels in potato sprouts, peels. Acetylcholinesterase inhibition, cell membranes disruption. Acutely toxic to humans. Drowsiness, hyperesthesia, labored breathing, and GI issues. Embryotoxic and teratogenic in experimental animals

Figure 1. A rigorous, integrated process to assess the safety of GE crops/food.

Figure content is adapted from the guidance provided by the Codex Alimentarius Commission of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.^17–19

Table 2. Bioinformatics search for Bt-R₁ (Bt toxin receptor) homologs in humans and mammals.

	BLAST searches^a
Database	Accession	Description	Identity	Alignment length	E-score
NR Full database	AAY44392.1	Cadherin-like protein [Ostrinia nubilalis]	99.18%	1717aa	0.0
NR (Entrez mammalia)	XP_023351096.1	Cadherin-23 isoform X3 [Sarcophilus harrisii]	23.29%	1597aa	5e-39
NR (Entrez homo sapiens)	AAR13653.1	Fat-like cadherin FATJ protein [Homo sapiens]	22.70%	1089aa	6e-22
AAY44392.1 (Direct comparison)	Q12864.3	RecName: Full = Cadherin-17	25.06%	403aa	3e-15

^aSearches were conducted using BLAST (BLASTP 2.8.1+) from the NCBI Blast portal (https://blast.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, accessed 03-7-2019) against the NR protein database using accession CAC41165.1 as the query sequence.⁴¹ For the NR mammalian search, the Entrez category was restricted to taxid: 40674. For the NR human search, the Entrez category was restricted to taxid: 9606.

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