Ninety percent of tortillas tested by researchers from the National Autonomous University of Mexico contained traces of genetically modified corn, said the site Mexico News Daily. The lead researcher said the results were striking because “cultivation of genetically modified corn in open fields is not allowed in Mexico.”
The study, published in the journal Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, said traces of GMOs were found in 82 percent of corn products overall. In addition, 28 percent of the samples that tested positive for GMOs also carried traces of glyphosate, the world’s most widely used weedkiller. The herbicide is considered safe for humans at the levels likely to be consumed in food.
Handmade tortillas using homegrown corn varieties had a “significantly lower frequency” of GMO content than mass-produced tortillas, said Mexico News Daily. None of the handmade tortillas contained glyphosate. For the study, samples were tested for GMOs at the Mexican university’s labs, then sent to a German laboratory for confirming tests. The German lab performed the tests for glyphosate.