New research indicates that, around the world, most consumers believe non-GMO products to be better for ones health as compared to GMO foods.
The survey, conducted by HealthFocus International, sought the opinions of consumers across sixteen different nations.…
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released results to the public of its evaluation of whether fifty-two known chemicals could be considered disruptors of the endocrine system—in other words, chemicals that disrupt the workings of the body’s hormones and the glands linked to those hormones, which can conceivably lead to birth defects and reproductive cancers.
Notably, one of these chemicals was glyphosate, a substance that is the main active ingredient in Roundup, the brand name for Monsanto’s ubiquitous herbicide that is used all over the world. The U.S. alone uses millions of pounds of the substance every year.…
In France, a research facility owned by biotech firm Monsanto has been subject to significant damage by a fire that was believed to be the result of arson. The fire erupted this October, on the same exact day that Vytenis Andriukaitis, the commissioner of food safety, was unable to win the European Parliament’s favor over his proposal to allow nations of the EU to individually ban GMOs.…
Actually, Herbicide-tolerant and Bt-transgenic crops caused a reduction in the use of pesticides. Charles Benbrook at Washington State University’s Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources says BT crops caused a reduction in the use of insecticide by 10-12 million pounds in a year between 1996 and 2011. Data gotten from USDA is showing a more drastic decrease.…
Myths about pesticides are just testimonies/claims to support false advertisements, marketing strategies or acts of lobbying. Pesticide companies, like Big Tobacco and the oil industry, have produced, through tricks, doubts about the science behind pesticides and have promoted the myths that their products are vital to life and harmless IF used as specified.
The myths were referred to as Tobacco Strategy by book Merchants of Doubt. Pesticide companies organized public relations and legal campaigns to disagree with the evidence, often using untruthful scientists to create controversial premises around the so-called junk science ranging from second-hand smoke resulting into cancer, global …
More produce has been added to the ever-expanding GMO list: potatoes and apples. In this particular case, the GMO version of these common plant products has been modified to reduce browning (oxidation) when slices are exposed to the air. Scientists achieved this by using dsRNA (a version of RNA, sometimes found in viruses, that is double-stranded, similar to DNA), to alter the effects of the gene that is responsible for both the fruit’s and tuber’s browning response. Because the results are merely aesthetic, there was really no good reason to modify this gene, as some amount of browning is perfectly …
The awkward news keeps going viral on daily basis that Monsanto’s Roundup glyphosate-laced herbicide is poisonous. A recent study showed that if Roundup could cause hormonal imbalances in rats, then humans are not safe because it may have similar effects on them.
This study was published recently in the journal ‘Toxicology Reports’. It was discovered that Roundup works as a “hormone hacker” which means, it creates imbalances in the production of steroid hormones in male rats.
Roundup eliminates weeds by acting as an enzyme inhibitor thereby stopping further production of aromatic amino acids needed for plant growth. Roundup-resistant GMO plants …
The USDA recently decided to drop regulations on Monsanto’s new corn (known as MON 87411), a type of modified maize that will not only be more resistant to strong weed-killers, but which will be able to better endure pests which damage root systems.
Monsanto modified the seeds to be more tolerant to Roundup, the weed-killing agent with a controversial main ingredient, the chemical glyphosate.…
As little as a decade ago, hummus was something to be looked forward to, a rare treat that you may only encounter at a specialty restaurant. More and more, however, it has become a commonplace healthy snack that you may pick up anytime at your local grocery store. Nutrition-conscious parents in particular have been relying on conveniently-packaged commercial hummus like Sabra to give their kids a healthy lunch.…
Groups appealing production approval for genetically-modified salmon eggs in P.E.I.
In Federal Court later this week, Environmental groups will attempt to overturn the decision (made by Environment Canada) to approve genetically-modified salmon eggs for production. They argue that the process is much too shrouded in mystery and that this does not bode well as an indicator of things to come in the industry.
According to the Living Oceans Society and The Ecology Action Centre, Environment Canada was, even by their own standards, not thorough enough in their assessment of the company that sought approval to produce the eggs.…