UK research firm applies for permit to grow GM broccoli and wheat

Just when you thought your food choices were clear and safe. UK firm The John Innes Centre has applied for permission to plant experimental genetically modified wheat and broccoli in open fields at their farm outside Norwich, in the United Kingdom. The research company hopes to begin two small-scale field trials in April.

New study shows we’re eating WAY more chemicals than we thought

Pesticide use on commercially grown crops has increased dramatically  even more than consumers have been led to believe. According to figures recently released by the Soil Association – the UK’s leading food and farming charity and organic certification body – show the number of chemicals on supermarket vegetables has increased up to 17 fold in the past 40 years.

California dairy to be first to sell non-GMO certified conventional milk

There’s a lot of milk out there. And if you look carefully at the labels, you may discover that what you don’t see could be a problem. Truth is, the majority of conventional milk comes from cows that are given rBST and/or rGBH, artificial growth hormones that have been in the news a lot.

But one northern California dairy is stepping outside the norm to provide what they feel is a healthier line of milk products.

Clover Stornetta Farms, a Petaluma, California-based dairy, is betting that consumers will go for their conventional milk that isn’t organic but is healthier. They plan to replace their conventional milk with one produced without GMOs in the supply line.

Organic versus non-GMO certified. Which would you pick if you had all the information?

Saw a great article today – taken from an interview on NPR’s All Things Considered – that examined people’s perceptions of food products that were labeled either USDA Organic or Non-GMO Project Verified. It made some very good points for both sides.

New certification lets consumers know products are fully Non-Genetically Engineered

The controversy of GMO versus non-GMO continues. The state of Vermont appears to be a pivotal factor in getting food manufacturers to finally begin labeling their products despite the huge pushback and enormous amounts of money thrown against the mandatory labeling fight.

Another sign that consumers will finally get the information as to what’s in their food that they consistently report they want has appeared.

Dannon to switch to non-GMO ingredients for all its yogurt brands

Yogurt lovers have received a much welcomed announcement about their favorite snack food.

Dannon, which owns the Oikos®, Dannon® and Danimals® yogurt brands, has announced that it will switch to non-GMO, non-synthetic ingredients.These brands represent 50 percent of the company’s current volume. This move is a pledge to farmers, customers and consumers to further improve sustainable agriculture practices for its milk supply, to increase transparency for its portfolio of products and evolve to more natural and fewer ingredients for flagship brands.

Monsanto being sued for $83 million over GMO cotton failure

The cotton association of the African nation of Burkina Faso announced that it’s suing Monsanto for approximately $84 million (48.3 billion CFA francs) – compensation it says is due because the U.S. company’s genetically modified cotton caused a drop in quality.

Transgenic maize not allowed to be cultivated in Mexico

Mexico’s native maize is a little safer after winning an appeal to keep a ban on planting GE corn

Maize, a staple in the Mexican diet, has been cultivated there for hundreds of years. This important crop has been threatened by the introduction and cross-pollination of transgenic or genetically engineered corn.

But a group of scientists have succeeded in standing in Monsanto’s plan to expand the territory for its GE corn.

Dr. Seralini to speak this weekend in San Diego

For those who will be in or around the San Diego, California area this weekend, there’s a very special event taking place you may want to get to. Dr. Gilles-Eric Seralini, the scientist who exposed the dangers of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in what turned out to be a hotly contested study, will headline the Environmental Health Solutions Public Forum in San Diego this Sunday, March 6, 2016, from 3:00 to 7:00 pm.

There’s light at the end of the D.A.R.K. tunnel – US Senators introduce mandatory GMO labeling bill

Consumers have said that they want the right to know what’s in their food. Poll after poll shows  that the large majority favor mandatory food labeling. Yet both houses of Congress think that listening to powerful lobbying instead of their constituents is the way to go.

But even though the U.S. House of Representatives passed their version of the D.A.R.K.  “Deny Americans the Right-to-Know”) Act and the Senate Agricultural Committee has moved their version of this forward, some Senators have actually listened and are taking steps to ensure that consumers can find GMO ingredient labeling on food packaging while ensuring that food producers aren’t subject to confusing or conflicting labeling requirements in different locations.