European Food Authority Claims that Glyphosate is ‘Safe’ – But How?
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) said on Thursday that glyphosate is unlikely to cause cancer in humans, despite the World Health Organization’s declaration in March that the main ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide is “probably carcinogenic to humans.”
Adding insult to injury, the agency proposed a higher exposure limit on the daily amount of glyphosate residue.
EFSA said that glyphosate is “unlikely to pose a carcinogenic hazard to humans” and requested that the level of consumption considered safe for humans be raised from .3 milligrams per kilogram of body weight to .5 milligrams. [1]
The agency says the difference between its findings and the WHO’s findings come down to the way the studies were conducted. EFSA’s research focused specifically on glyphosate’s risk to humans, whereas the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) study also reviewed glyphosate-based formulas, which may be carcinogenic because they require the interaction of various chemicals. EFSA said it was “focused on the pure active substance.”
“This has been an exhaustive process – a full assessment that has taken into account a wealth of new studies and data,” said Jose Tarazona, head of the pesticides unit at the EFSA, based in Parma, Italy.
“Regarding carcinogenicity, it is unlikely that this substance is carcinogenic,” Tarazona says. [2]
Natural Resources Defense Council Senior Scientist Jennifer Sass says both groups simply interpreted the same research differently. Previous studies have linked glyphosate and cancer in animals. Research has also suggested that glyphosate may cause non-Hodgkin lymphoma in farm workers who are exposed to the chemical at high levels. EFSA individually evaluated each study looking for holes to discredit the bigger picture, but the IARC took a broader approach. Sass and her organization believe the IARC should be the authority on assessing carcinogenicity.
Are we merely looking at an example of Monsanto using money and friends in high places to boost its own business?
Peter Melchett, policy director of the U.K.-based Soil Association, cautioned that the agency’s announcement shouldn’t spell relief for people who are concerned about GMOs, as glyphosate “is always used in combination with a range of other toxic chemicals,” the findings did nothing but to “make it blindingly obvious that the WHO approach is right from the perspective of public safety, and that the EFSA approach simply serves the interests of the pesticide companies.” [3]
Greenpeace went so far as to call the announcement “a whitewash.”
“EFSA has defied the world’s most authoritative cancer agency,” Greenpeace EU food policy director Franziska Achterberg said in a statement.
If you think EFSA’s conclusion gets Monsanto off the hook, think again. The agribusiness has been caught in lies in the past, has been accused of concealing data that shows glyphosate causes cancer and notoriously uses Monsanto- and industry-funded researchers to conduct glyphosate studies.
Sources:
[1] Time
[2] Reuters
[3] The Daily Meal
Featured article image credit: Philippe Huguen—AFP/Getty Images
Aluminum is a known neurotoxin, and according to Professor Christopher Exley of Keele University, aluminum-containing products are likely fueling the rise in Alzheimer’s disease. In an article published in the journal Frontiers in Neurology, he writes:“We are all accumulating a known neurotoxin in our brain from our conception to our death. The presence of aluminium in the human brain should be a red flag alerting us all to the potential dangers of the aluminium age.
Not much else however, here is a rewind on the Donald.
Aug 21, 2015 No, Clinton Operative Donald Trump Is Not Going to “Save” America
https://youtu.be/vgYfkvfjvn4
Donald also stated that Iraq was not a country when he was asked (in the beginning of his campaign) What he would do in Iraq? Iraq was never a country. A decision of of WWII. Donald is the only Republican that castigated Jeb! on his brother “keeping us safe” What is most important is that Donald will keep us safe from Hillary. Hillary is a Neocon war monger, worse then the Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld war criminals, that Richard Clarke publicly indicted for war crimes in May. If Hillary is the nominee, Donald will be President. If Bernie is nominee, Bernie will be President. If, indeed, it is Bernie vs Donald, these will be the greatest debates in the history of our country. My only hope is that they will bring up the subject of the 3 corium meltdowns and death of sea life in the North Pacific Ocean.
You must get ground engaged for sure. This what you missed out on.
Sep 5, 2012 DNC votes just as scripted as RNC’s: Delegates voices are equally ignored at rigged conventions
During the Democratic National Convention boos break out for the vote to reverse the party’s position on Jerusalem just as during the Republican National Convention the delegates views were overruled to push through an equally unsupported motion.
Aug 30, 2012 Did RNC “Scripted” Rules Change Start A Civil War In The Republican Party?
Ben Swann Reality Check takes a look at how the most controversial rule change in party history was not legitimately passed.
Glyphosate Causes Kidney Disease. The first two links are from the National Institute of Health and the 3rd link is from Natural Society
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15862083
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3945589/
Europe has banned GMO’s and Artificial sugars and Obama is appointing a Big Pharma insider to head the FDA. GMO salmon approval occurs same day as http://enenews.com/ reports salmon extinction in Pacific along with death of Blue Whales and other species that the testing labs do not have enough time to biopsy because there are too many victims of all species. This Glyphosate leeches into the rivers, oceans along with the 3 corium meltdowns at Fukushima, What is causing death of Pacific ocean or increase in kidney disease does not matter to Western Medicine as long as a kidney transplant or a GMO Salmon can replace Creators creatures.
Thank you, I just listened to it and will send it to others. Donald Trump has selected Ted Cruz for VP, uniting the Christian terrorists and eliminating the Oligarch funded toadies, (Jeb!, whose brother kept us “safe”) and Rubio, another Neocon, like Hillary. I would prefer Rand, who voted against the war, as did Obama and Bernie. I am supporting Bernie and hope he runs against Donald. Hillary must not be the nominee