Subchronic feeding study of stacked trait genetically-modified soybean (3Ø5423 × 40-3-2) in Sprague–Dawley rats

The genetically-modified (GM) soybean 3Ø5423 × 40-3-2 expresses siRNA for the fatty acid desaturase-2 enzyme which results in higher concentrations of oleic acid (18:1) relative to linoleic acid (18:2) compared with non-GM soybeans. It also expresses the CP4 EPSPS protein for tolerance to glyphosate. In this study, three different dietary concentrations (7.5%, 15% and 30% wt/wt) of 3Ø5423 × 40-3-2 or non-GM soybeans were fed to Sprague–Dawley rats for 90 days during which in-life nutritional and growth performance variables were evaluated followed by analysis of standard clinical chemistry, hematology and organ variables. Compared with rats fed the non-GM control diet, some statistically significant differences were observed in rats fed the 3Ø5423 × 40-3-2 diet. However the differences were not considered treatment-related and commonly fell within the normal ranges of the control group consuming the commercial diet. These results demonstrated that the GM soybean 3Ø5423 × 40-3-2 is as safe as non-GM soybeans.