Appropriate analytical methods are necessary to assess nontarget effects of insecticidal proteins in GM crops through meta-analysis (response to Andow et al. 2009)

Shelton, A; Naranjo, S; Romeis, J; Hellmich, R; Wolt, J; Federici, B; Albajes, R; Bigler, F; Burgess, E; Divley, G; Gatehouse, A; Malone, L; Roush, R; Sears, M; Sehnal, F; Ferry, N; Bell, H

Abstract

As we described in our rebuttal in Transgenic Research
(Shelton et al. 2009), we think that the meta-analysis
approach used by Lo¨ vei et al. (2009) suffers from
important methodological limitations relative to risk
assessment that led them to reach conclusions that are
in conßict with those of several recent comprehensive
reviews and meta-analyses about the effects of Cry
proteins on natural enemies. In particular, we believe
that in their analyses they often attributed hazard to
a protein rather than, more accurately, to poor prey or
host quality. The rebuttal by Andow et al. (2009) does
not correct this mistaken comparison or address our
other major concerns.

In this response to their letter we clarify misrepresentations
of our original statements, refocus the discussion
on methodology, and re-emphasize the additional
main points of our initial rebuttal that Andow et
al. (2009) did not address in their response.

Citation

Shelton, A., Naranjo, S., Romeis, J., Hellmich, R., Wolt, J., Federici, B., …Bell, H. (2009). Appropriate analytical methods are necessary to assess nontarget effects of insecticidal proteins in GM crops through meta-analysis (response to Andow et al. 2009). Environmental Entomology, 38(6), 1533-1536

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2009
• Deposit Date: Oct 6, 2011
• Journal: Environmental Entomology
• Print ISSN: 0046-225X
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 38
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 1533-1536
• Publisher URL: http://www.entsoc.org/Pubs/Periodicals/EE