GMO Feed Alters Pigs' Stomachs

If the thought of eating genetically modified food makes you a bit sick in the stomach, you're not alone. A new study has found that pigs who were fed a diet of GM corn and soy had a higher rate of stomach inflammation than those who strictly ate regular feed. Of the 168 pigs slaughtered then autopsied in the study, 32% of the GM-fed porkers showed severe stomach inflammation, versus 12% of those consuming non-GM food, Reuters reports. The difference was more profound in male pigs, though the GM-fed female pigs displayed a remarkable change of their own: uteri that were 25% heavier than those of their non-GM counterparts.

"The thing about a pig is that their digestive system is very similar to that of a human," the lead researcher told ABC Radio. "So the fact we've got these results in the stomachs of pigs means that we should really start looking to see if we're getting similar effects in the stomachs of humans." Reuters notes that no variations were observed in terms of weight gain or mortality rate. The study follows previous claims that the proteins produced by GM genes could trigger digestive issues. (See photos of the two types of stomachs here.)