Bayer’s Monsanto faces 8,000 lawsuits on glyphosate
Originally published in Reuters The number of U.S. lawsuits brought against Bayer’s newly acquired Monsanto has jumped to about 8,000, as the German drugmaker braces for years of legal wrangling over alleged cancer risks of glyphosate-based weedkillers. Bayer had previously disclosed 5,200 such la
Weedkiller found in wide range of breakfast foods aimed at children
Originally published in the Guardian by Oliver Milman Significant levels of the weedkilling chemical glyphosate have been found in an array of popular breakfast cereals, oats and snack bars marketed to US children, a new study has found. Tests revealed glyphosate, the active ingredient in the popula
Monsanto Found GUILTY In Roundup Cancer Case
On August 10, Monsanto was found guilty on all counts in the first of many cases connecting Roundup’s main ingredient, glyphosate, to cancer. The jury awarded Dewayne “Lee” Johnson, a Bay Area school district groundskeeper, $289 million. Johnson sprayed Roundup and a similar prod
Meet Monsanto’s Dangerous Bioengineered Plant That Never Dies
Originally published in AlterNet by George Kimbrell Creeping bentgrass can cross-pollinate with related wild species and spread uncontrollably. Earlier this month, the Department of Agriculture quietly greenlighted the first-ever genetically engineered grass. The GE creeping bentgrass, a product of
Monsanto’s Roundup weed-killer goes on trial with billions at stake
Originally published on CBS News by Aimee Picchi After it was introduced in the 1970s, Roundup was promoted as an “herbicide that gets to the root of the problem.” Now, four decades later, manufacturer Monsanto will face a lawsuit that seeks to get to the root of another problem: whether
FDA OKs first U.S. genetically engineered salmon facility, at Albany
Originally published in Star Press by Seth Slabaugh The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday announced its approval of the first U.S. facility for production of genetically engineered salmon. However, an “import alert” for genetically engineered salmon remains in place, preventi
Farmers Switched to Organic After Pesticides Made Them or Their Families Sick
Originally published in EcoWatch by Ken Roseboro Some farmers transition to organic production to earn premium prices paid for organic crops. Others switch to make their farms more sustainable. But for some farmers transitioning to organic is a necessity to save their health—and even their lives.
An Apple Shows Just How Broken Our Food System Is
Originally published in Huffington Post by Otto Scharmer Buying and eating apples seems a pretty healthy thing to do. But a new study has found that every 1 kilo (2.2 pounds) of conventionally grown apples creates health effects costing 21 cents due to the effects of pesticides and fungicides, res
Weedkiller found in granola and crackers, internal FDA emails show
Originally published in the Guardian. US government scientists have detected a weedkiller linked to cancer in an array of commonly consumed foods, emails obtained through a freedom of information request show. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been testing food samples for residues of gly