NPR: Greenpeace: Budweiser Uses Genetically Modified Rice

Greenpeace: Budweiser Uses Genetically Modified Rice

I'm a big beer guy, so I was interested to read in The Boston Globe that Greenpeace, the environmental group, has accused Anheuser-Busch of using genetically modified rice in its Budweiser beer. (The company brews its beer with rice to give it a "crisp" taste.)

According to an analysis released Monday by Greenpeace, "three of four samples of unprocessed rice from the beer maker's mill in Arkansas showed the presence of the strain, Bayer LL601." In a statement, Doug Muhleman, Anheuser-Busch's vice president of brewing, said the U.S.-grown rice "'may have micro levels' of a genetically engineered protein called Liberty Link, but added that the protein is 'substantially removed or destroyed' during the brewing of beer sold domestically."

Muhleman said the "false and defamatory" statements were made by Greenpeace in retaliation for the company's refusal to side with it in a boycott against U.S. farmers who grow genetically modified crops. But Greenpeace said Americans have a right to know if this type of rice is used in Budweiser's beer. The organization even made a YouTube video called "Wassup With Your Beer?"

But Jason Alstrom of BeerAdvocate.com told the Globe in an e-mail, "As for your typical Bud drinker, I doubt they would care or even know what g-e food actually is."

4:59 PM ET | 10- 9-2007 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

But does it slow down a softball game?

Sent by dans | 7:05 PM ET | 10-09-2007

PBR in a can > Budweiser.

Sent by angsty | 4:07 PM ET | 10-10-2007

Alstrom has a good point. Regular Bud drinkers wouldn't know a good beer if it sprayed them, so they sure won't notice a few frankenhopps in the mix unless their brewski up and walks away on its own. These genetic modifiers just better not tamper with my domestic microbrews or any imports.

Sent by John R. Otten | 7:24 PM ET | 10-10-2007

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