May 2000
headlines and summaries

(For archives, see bottom)

May 31

Audit uncovers unauthorized GE experiments -- Yahoo! Australia and NZ News

Too late to fear 'mutant genes' in our food -- BridgeNews, commentary by Dennis Avery

Expose on genetically modified foods reaps national business book award -- Press release

European Union, U.S. set science panel on biotechnology -- Reuters

Corn growers see recent events in Europe as continuing the controversy over GMO use in the USA -- American Corn Growers Association press release

Soy gene find fuels doubts on GM crops -- The Guardian (UK)

North Atlantic wild salmon headed for extinction - WWF -- Reuters

GM-contaminated rape sown here -- Irish Times

Scientists make plants grow faster -- AP

Sacred trust / Don't fool with Mother Nature, warns His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales -- Globe and Mail

May 30

GM tomatoes 'fight cancer' -- BBC

Call for ban on GM humans -- BBC

Biotech branches out / Genetic modifications have the potential to change our landscapes - and to transform forestry -- San Jose Mercury News

Falklands to become the first all-organic exporter -- The Independent (UK)

Minnesota field tests of genetically modified poplar trees cause sparks -- Minneapolis Star Tribune

Frankenfood's critics are hard to swallow -- Globe and Mail commentary by Saskatchewan premier, Roy Romanow

New tomato makes for vitamin-packed Bloody Mary -- Reuters

May 29

German scientist finds GM genes can jump species -- Reuters

Crops tainted by GM seeds to be ploughed up -- Sunday-Times (UK)

Firms move to avoid risk of contamination -- Sunday-Times (UK)

European Union says GM rapeseed farmers should get aid -- Reuters

Great jumping genes: study jolts assurances on GM crops -- Sydney Morning Herald 

Questions remain after French decision to kill GM tainted rape -- Bridge News (UK)

Greenpeace ploughs up German GM rapeseed fields -- Reuters

How safe are genetically altered foods? -- CNN Talkback Live (TV transcript)

May 28

GM genes 'can spread to people and animals' -- The Independent (UK)

GM genes 'jump species barrier' -- The Observer (UK)

May 27

Sowing dissent / Strict segregation would keep crops free of genetically modified seed. But is it possible? -- New Scientist magazine

Destruction of Scottish GM crops possible -- PA News

Farmers advised to destroy GM crops -- BBC

Farmers mull legal move against government on seed -- Reuters

May 26

Vandals strike biotech crops: Woodland facility hit -- Sacramento Bee

Clashes in Italy outside GM food conference -- Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Greenpeace sets deadline on GM seeds -- Sunday-Times (UK)

Teenagers see monitored GM foods as part of future -- Irish Times

GM seed fears grow -- BBC

Brazil recommends simple test for transgenic soy -- Reuters

Interview - India examining GM crop options, trials -- Reuters

Italy grains-opposition to GM crops hinders biotech research -- Reuters

May 25

Greenpeace says up to 15 percent European Union maize includes GM -- Reuters

France decides to destroy GM rapeseed crops -- Reuters

British minister says no GM maize planted -- Reuters

Spain says GM maize allowed, but no other crop -- Reuters

Frankenfood? Europeans unhappy with genetically modified food -- ABC News

Why take the risk? -- ABC News sidebar

GM crops 'planted for years by mistake' -- Sunday-Times (UK)

Brown (Scotland) facing resign call over GM crop delay -- PA News

Riots threaten pro-GM conference -- The Guardian (UK)

British growers prepared to allow 1 percent contamination -- The Independent (UK)

GM seeds a matter for consumers, says Meacher -- PA News (UK)

Minister plays down 'GM maize' fears -- PA News (UK)

Thousands march in anti-GM food protest in Genoa -- Reuters

Seeds supplied by France and US may be tainted -- The Guardian (UK)

Heaven has nothing to do with it / Irrational talk by Charles did not help environmental scientists -- The Guardian (UK) commentary

GM salmon in Norway pose cancer threat: fish inspector -- Agence France Presse

Are genetically modified foods fit for a dog? / Breaking bioethics: Not in France -- MSNBC

Column: Playing genetic roulette -- The Falcon, Seattle Pacific U.

Penn ends gene trials on humans -- Washington Post

May 24

Foods of the future? -- BBC

Wales defies British government with GM crop ban -- Reuters

U.N. agreement on GM foods signed by 62 nations -- Reuters

Greenpeace uncovers GM cotton seeds in Greece -- Reuters

Get permit or destroy GM crop, Sweden orders -- Reuters

French government to take decision on GM seed this week -- Reuters

Farmer will plough up GM crops -- The Independent

Anti-GM battle heats up as farmer destroys crop -- Guardian (UK)

The 'slippery slope' of patenting farmers' crops -- New York Times

GM seed leak 'tip of iceberg' -- BBC

Interview - GM food tests inconsistent -- Reuters

GMOs: Canada seed officials warn on import contamination risk -- BridgeNews

USDA attache: Monsanto ends herbicide-canola seed link in Canada -- BridgeNews

Biotech companies fear public resistance could hurt industry -- Knight-Ridder

GM food tests inconsistent -- Reuters

May 23

Anti-GM protest shuts Britain's agricultural ministry -- Reuters

Novartis unveils new gene marker -- Reuters

Greenpeace stages anti-GM crop protest at Ravenna (Italy) -- Reuters

More Minnesota farmers turn to genetically modified seeds -- Knight-Ridder

Canada seed official warns on import contamination risk -- Bridge News

Canadian Food Information Council: Wolf in sheep's clothing -- Centre for Science in the Public Interest press release

Two arrested for trying to label altered food -- Montreal Gazette

E-mail reveals root of Kauai farm vandalism -- Honolulu Star-Bulletin

GM/GE - Consumers weigh up the evidence -- HortResearch (New Zealand polling results)

May 22

GM secrecy 'made seed error worse' -- Sunday Times (UK)

US farmer fears discontent will spread -- Sunday Times (UK)

No health risk from GM seed incident - French agmin -- Reuters

Vocal GM protests loom in Italy -- Wired News

May 21

French play down split in debate over Canada's GM seed -- Reuters

May 20

Anxiety on genetically altered seed spreads in Europe -- New York Times

Stance on genetic engineering divides dietetic group -- The Oregonian

Officials fail to check source of GM pollution -- The Guardian

May 19

Germany mulls tighter controls after GM crop case -- Reuters

Tougher laws needed after GM seed mishap - Advanta -- Reuters

UK ministry says can't insist GM crops destroyed -- Reuters

European Union consumers urge industry responsibility for GMOs -- Reuters

Farmers in UK GM rapeseed mix-up may stay unknown -- Reuters

Canada's GMO rapeseed safe - agricultural minister -- Reuters

GM rape was cleared for EU food use, not growing -- Reuters

Europe again in food flap -- Washington Post

Europeans learn they're inadvertently growing genetically altered plants for canola -- New York Time

Legal action over GM seeds rejected -- BBC

Organic farmers threaten to sue over crops blunder -- The Independent (UK)

MPs demand destruction of GM rape crop -- The Independent (UK)

Genetically engineered foods a mystery at Northwestern U. -- Daily Northwestern

Saskatchewan farmer to battle Monsanto in court -- Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

Frankenfood, or the modern canola -- Washington Post

May 18

Gulp! GM food is good for you -- The Independent (UK)

Campaigners' GM crop blunder fury -- Evening Standard (UK)

Government accused over GM seeds mix-up -- ITN online (UK)

European Union says member states must enforce GM crop rules -- Reuters

Europe hit by rogue batch of GM seed -- Agence France Presse

Rogue GM seeds sown on 600 farms -- Sunday Times (UK)

Scientists saddened at Prince's attack -- Sunday Time (UK)

Euro alert over GM seed -- BBC

Genetically modified seeds create stir in Europe -- Reuters

Prince praised for warning on ethics of biotechnology -- Irish Times

France has no plans to destroy modified rapeseed -- Reuters

Presence of genetically modified crop in UK presents no human health risk says chairman -- Food Standards Agency press release

'Mistake' allows GM seeds to be sown across Britain -- The Independent (UK)

Government defends polluted crops planted in UK -- The Guardian (UK)

GM seeds 'no threat to health' -- PA News

Italy orders anti-fraud checks over GM rapeseed -- Reuters

Margarine industry confident amid GM furor -- Reuters

Organic group says UK govt should destroy GM rape -- Reuters

UK retailers take hard line on GM rapeseed -- Reuters

Canadian Health Food Association supports GM-free labeling, refuses to comply with grocers' sticker requirement -- CFHA press release

French minister demands GM crop be destroyed -- Reuters

Germany has no plans to destroy GM rapeseed -- Reuters

News on genetically altered seeds alarms Europe -- Washington Post

Hawking rejects prince's science concerns -- BBC

Polluted pollen's 'limited impact' -- BBC

Austin city council approves GE food resolution -- City of Austin, Texas press release

May 17

Biotech firm will help Third World harvest rice -- USA Today

European Union accused of lax approach to GM foods -- Irish Times

Concern over genetically engineered foods draws shareholder action at McDonalds meeting -- Friends of the Earth press release

Prince's fears over 'tampering with nature' -- ITN online (UK)

Come and get it! Irradiated hamburgers are here -- WCCO Ch. 4 news, Minnesota

Australians want labels on genetically modified food: Survey -- Bloomberg

Furor over modified crops feeds planting decision -- Philadelphia Inquirer

Firms add vitamins to rice / Genetic engineering that benefits the consumer -- Bloomberg News

May 16

Super seeds sweeping major markets, and Brazil may be next -- New York Times

Students take anti-GM foods stance -- Australian Broadcasting Corporation

UC-Berkeley alliance with with Novartis blasted by state senators -- Daily Californian

GM pollen found in honey -- BBC

May 14

A case of letting the gene out of the bottle -- New York Times

New ventures aim to put farms in vanguard of drug production -- New York Times

Vaccine delivered by fork, not needle -- New York Times

Mysterious tumors deal blow to cloning research -- Ottawa Citizen

May 13

Shhh...the gene crops are multiplying -- Sydney Morning Herald

Genetic groceries no reason to panic -- Abilene Reporter-News editorial (Texas)

May 12

Farmers protest exclusion from 'farm' hearings on genetically engineered food -- Keep Nature Natural Campaign press release

May 11

Seeds of controversy / The debate rages over genetically engineered food -- San Jose MetroActive

Is an "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes' coming sooner than we think? -- GalaxyOnline.com press release

Silicon to soybeans / Monsanto Company, the corporation at the center of the global food fight over genetically modified crops, can't seem to win the public's trust. But things could be worse for the food giant: people could find out about its Silicon Valley past -- San Jose MetroActive

May 10

Stores criticized for GM-free leaflets -- BBC

Safeway defending gene-altered ingredients -- Contra Costa Times (Calif.)

Shareholders defeat activists' bid / Ban on genetically engineered foods sacked by Safeway -- San Jose Mercury News

California says no to biotech food labels -- San Francisco Chronicle

Quaker shareholders reject ban on GMO ingredients -- Reuters

UN members agree on labels for biotech foods -- Agence France Presse

Farm Bureau leader: Americans should embrace promises of biotechnology -- American Farm Bureau Federation press release

Senate panel approves biotechnology research to help developing countries -- St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Biotech battle now a war of words -- St. Petersburg Times

May 9

Activists want Canada to support labeling of genetically engineered foods at Codex -- Sierra Club of Canada press release

Two top chefs join food fight -- Chicago Sun-Times

Spanish firms seek halt to GM maize growing -- ENDS Daily

Panel discusses biotech foods -- AP

Convention exposes rift over genetically altered foods -- Chicago Tribune

Canadian wheat board stands against biotech wheat imports -- Bridge News

May 8

So far, consumers are ho-hum about biotech foods, grocers say -- AP

European Union remains prudent on genetically modified foods -- AP

Genetically engineered foods: Science and nature don't necessarily mix -- American Chiropractic Association press release

Tokyo exchange to start non-GM soy trade on May 18 -- Reuters

Japanese breed gene-modified mouse that glows, Yomiuri says -- Bloomberg News

Protesters missed GM crop, court hears -- PA News

Novartis says Greenpeace study on their Bt corn 'flawed' -- AgWeb.com

Biosafety clearance given to Monsanto's Bt corn -- Asian Age

Corn growers submit recommendations to USDA advisory committee on agricultural biotechnology -- American Corn Growers Association press release

May 7

Promise & peril: The future of biotechnology -- Sacramento Bee

Food for Thought -- San Francisco Chronicle column

May 5

Italy to scientists: No GM gelato -- Environment News Service

White House enters the biotech food fight / But its proposal to sharpen scrutiny of biotech foods is decried as too tentative -- Christian Science Monitor

Stalking the wild Frankensalmon / Foes of genetically altered foods say the Clinton Administration's new regulations don't go far enough -- Salon.com

Glickman says new biotech rules are a 'good first step' -- Bridge News

GMA, industry groups ask FDA, FTC to explain 'rules of the road' for non-biotech food claims -- Grocery Manufacturers of America press release

U.S. anti-GM farm groups launch new web site -- Reuters

May 4

US tightens its GM food rules -- The Independent (UK)

Dairy forces farmers to abandon GM crop trial -- The Guardian (UK)

U.S. to keep a closer watch on genetically altered crops -- New York Times

Biotech food rules too lax, critics say: Producer labeling called 'hollow step' -- Sacramento Bee

Plan seeks to boost oversight of genetically modified foods -- Los Angeles Times

More U.S. biotech food regulations likely - Glickman -- Reuters

GMOs may pose new risk to endangered plants, animals -- Reuters

Column: The perils of genetic engineering -- The Stanford Daily

New campaign targets genetically manipulated trees -- IPS World News

New theme for shareholder activism: Policing genetically modified food -- New York Times

Elliot's can of worms -- gofish.com column about supersalmon

May 3

Greenpeace activists face new trial over attack on GM crops -- The Independent (UK)

U.S. to announce steps to toughen policy on gene-altered food -- New York Times

U.S. tightens biofood approvals, no labels required -- Reuters

U.S. to add oversight on biotech food -- Washington Post

FDA announces biotech food rules -- AP

Environmental Defense calls White House biotechnology plan weak -- Environmental Defense Fund press release

FDA announcement 'a win for consumer confidence in biotechnology,' says NFPA -- National Food Processors Association press release

FDA to strengthen pre-market review of bioengineered foods -- FDA press release

New FDA policy fails to require testing or labeling of genetically engineered foods -- Center for Food Safety press release

Monsanto lab in Crystal closes amid food protests / NatureMark facility raised insect-resistant potatoes -- Bangor Daily News

New Zealand commission to study GMOs -- Bridge News

U.S. governors band together to promote biotechnology in food -- Bridge News

Administration announces food biotechnology initiative -- White House press release

Democrats criticize White House biofood plan -- Reuters

Thumbs down on FDA rules for biotech food -- Competitive Enterprise Institute press release

Greenpeace exposes fatal flaws in science on biotech crops -- Greenpeace press release

Here comes the Frankenfish -- shewire at chickclick.com

U.S. science panel begins analyzing biofood issues -- Reuters

Biofood rules mean few changes for companies -- Reuters

U.S. Rep. Kucinich terms new genetically engineered food regs 'inadequate' -- Kucinich press release

Grower group welcomes science-based regulation of biotech foods -- Foundation E.A.R.T.H. press release

May 2

Biotech in hot oil -- Wall Street Journal editorial

More farmers abandon GM trials -- Friends of the Earth press release (UK)

Corn growers disappointed in FDA decision to call for only voluntary labeling of GMOs -- American Corn Growers Association press release

Could plants with modified genes lead to superweeds? -- Minneapolis Star Tribune

Biggest risk from GE foods is allergic reaction, scientists say -- Minneapolis Star Tribune

May 1

Altered salmon lead the way to the dinner plate, but rules lag -- New York Times

Biotech oversight checkpoints -- Washington Times column by C.S. Prakash

Bt found to reduce toxin in corn -- Environmental News Network

Arizona's super cotton -- Arizona Daily Star

Arguments for and against labeling of genetically modified food -- Minneapolis Star Tribune

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