GMWatch was sent these sculptures of sick mice in cans of GM tomato puree by an anonymous donor. The GM tomato puree was produced around 1994 by Safeway and Sainsbury’s supermarkets. This was back in the days when supermarkets were proud of GM products and declared the “benefits” on the label.

Everything changed when in 1998 a consumer backlash against GM foods was set in motion by the findings of scientist Arpad Pusztai that GM potatoes harmed the health of rats. The supermarkets quickly withdrew the GM tomato paste and declared their own-brand products to be GM-free, a policy that still holds today.

In fact, another GM tomato, the Flavr Savr, had already been found to cause ill effects in rats in the developer company Calgene’s own tests. Increased stomach lesions were found in the GM-fed rats.

This doubtless explains the reluctance of these mice to be part of the GMO experiment.