Reuters — More than half of food tested by the U.S. government for pesticide residues last year showed detectable levels of pesticides, though most were within levels the government considers to be safe, according to a report issued Dec. 19 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The USDA looked at fresh and processed fruits and
USDA report says no risk from pesticide residues
Dow limits sales of GM soy, corn on China worries
Reuters — Dow AgroSciences said Wednesday it will restrict sales of its new genetically modified corn and soybeans to prevent them from entering U.S. domestic or international grain marketing channels as it awaits import approval from China. The move by the agricultural unit of Dow Chemical is aimed at avoiding the type of market turmoil
Monsanto settles U.S. farmers’ suits over experimental wheat
Reuters — Monsanto Co. said Wednesday it reached a settlement with U.S. wheat farmers who sued the seed company over market disruption after unapproved genetically engineered wheat was discovered growing without oversight in Oregon. Monsanto’s Roundup Ready wheat, which was never approved by U.S. regulators and which the company said it stopped testing a decade
GMO battles over ‘settled’ science spur new study of crops
Reuters — Monsanto, the world’s largest seed company, and its brethren of global biotech crop developers are spreading the word that as far as the safety of their genetically modified grain goes, the science is solidly on their side. The message of “settled” science has become the rallying cry for defenders of the crops and
Critics of Dow’s Enlist line suing U.S. EPA over approval
Reuters — A coalition of U.S. farmer and environmental groups filed a lawsuit Wednesday seeking to overturn regulatory approval granted last week for an herbicide developed by Dow AgroSciences. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in California, argues that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) did not adequately analyze
U.S. EPA approves Dow’s Enlist Duo herbicide for GM soy, corn
Reuters — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency gave final approval on Wednesday to a new herbicide developed by Dow AgroSciences, ordering a series of restrictions to address potential environmental and health hazards. The EPA said it was applying “first-time-ever restrictions” on its approval of the herbicide, Enlist Duo, which is designed to be used with
Monsanto reports smaller loss, forecasts profit below estimates
Reuters — Monsanto, the world’s largest seed company, reported a narrower fourth-quarter loss on Wednesday and said it sees continued growth in the new fiscal year on sales of corn and soybean seeds. Monsanto, known for its genetically engineered corn, soybeans and other crops as well as the popular Roundup herbicide, forecast earnings in a
U.S. foods labeled ‘natural’ often contain GMOs, group reports
Reuters — A majority of U.S. packaged foods labeled as “natural” and tested by Consumer Reports actually contained a substantial level of genetically modified ingredients, according to a report issued Tuesday by the non-profit product testing group. Consumers are being misled by the “natural” label, said Urvashi Rangan, executive director of Consumer Reports Food Safety
Japan, Korea can stop GMO testing, U.S. wheat group chief says
Reuters — Japan and South Korea are continuing to test the U.S. wheat they buy to make sure the grain is not contaminated with an experimental version developed by Monsanto, but could soon stop the practice, the head of a U.S. wheat association said Thursday. The two countries, which are among the top purchasers of
U.S. says unapproved genetically modified wheat found in Montana
Reuters — Monsanto’s experimental genetically engineered wheat, never approved for sale, has been found growing in a second U.S. state, and regulators said Friday they could not explain how the plants escaped field trials that ended almost a decade ago. About a year after discovery of the company’s unapproved wheat in a single Oregon field