archive
The Salt
Did Congress Just Give GMOs A Free Pass In The Courts?
March 21, 2013 Congress on Thursday approved stopgap funding legislation that includes language explicitly granting the USDA authority to override a judge's ruling against genetically modified crops. Critics denounce the measure as the "Monsanto Protection Act." But it seems to be codifying powers the USDA already has exercised in the past.
The Salt
In A Grain Of Golden Rice, A World Of Controversy Over GMO Foods
March 7, 2013 A rice enriched with beta-carotene promises to boost the health of poor children around the world. But critics say golden rice is also a clever PR move for a biotech industry driven by profits, not humanitarianism.
The Salt
Monsanto Lawyer Suggests New Standard For Suing Farmers
January 15, 2013 Many farmers are worried that the biotech giant will sue them if a patented gene gets accidentally incorporated into their crops. But in a departure, one Monsanto lawyer says that only farmers that specifically take advantage of the company's technology would face a lawsuit.
The Salt
California's Genetically Engineered Food Label May Confuse More Than Inform
May 14, 2012 A new analysis of the labeling initiative, which may go on the ballot in November, shows that it would create a complex and nuanced set of restrictions for food companies on what "natural" food is.
The Salt
Activists Say Americans Support Labeling Genetically Modified Food
March 27, 2012 A coalition calling itself Just Label It released the results today of a survey it commissioned from The Mellman Group, a national pollster. The survey found that 91 percent of voters favor the labeling of food with genetically modified ingredients.
The Salt
How A Sunflower Gene Crossed The Line From Weed To Crop
March 12, 2012 All of our food crops are descended from plants that once grew wild. But the line that separates a despised weed from a valuable crop is sometimes a very fuzzy one.
The Salt
Judge Dismisses Organic Farmers' Case Against Monsanto
February 27, 2012 The Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association and several other plaintiff growers do not use Monsanto seeds, but had hoped that the federal judge would agree that Monsanto should not be allowed to sue them if pollen from the company's patented crops happened to drift into their fields.
The Salt
Safety Concerns Linger Around Genetically Modified Salmon
December 12, 2011 The long-running regulatory saga of a company's application to sell bioengineered salmon does not seem headed toward a conclusion.
The Salt
Politics Heating Up Over Labeling Genetically Modified Foods
October 17, 2011 Scientists and regulators have concluded time and time again that labeling genetically modified foods is unnecessary because they are no different than other foods. But food policy experts say just label them, already, so people can make their own choices.
