December 1999
headlines and summaries

November news archives
October
September
August
July
June

December 31

A few rush to exploit new biotech crop genetics -- Los Angeles Times

Gene therapy's troubling crossroads: A death raises questions of ethics, profit, science -- Washington Post

December 30

Whole Foods, Wild Oats chains to ban gene-altered ingredients -- Bloomberg

Opposition to GMOs starting to take root in Japan -- Kyodo World Service

December 29

Bug engineered to eat toxic waste -- AP

Portugal green groups urge wider gene maize ban -- Reuters

Corn growers state that farmers should not be blamed for higher food costs -- American Corn Growers Association press release

Label genetically modified food, almost all poll respondents say: two-thirds would refuse to eat genetically altered fare -- Montreal Gazette

December 28

Biotech beer turns off brewing industry -- AP

Brazil's farmers dispute ban on genetically modified food -- Wall Street Journal

In defense of better food -- Boston Herald editorial 

December 27

As biotech 'Frankenfoods' are stuffed down their throats, consumers rebel -- The Nation

Food fight comes to America -- The Nation

Canadian food producers in disarray -- National Post

Soy sauce is not just soy sauce, it seems -- Dow Jones

Biotech crop-busting comes to Canada -- National Post, Michael Fumento commentary

GMO crop use may boost food costs - Chicago Fed -- Reuters

December 26

Era of genes and dilemmas -- Los Angeles Times editorial

Please chew on this, Monsanto: Modified food has eaters fed up -- Toronto Star column

December 25

Food fight -- The Economist

Face value: Grim reaper -- The Economist

Texas farmers divided over genetically modified crops / Growers consider consumer perception of biotech foods before cutting back -- Dallas Morning News

December 24

People power blow to GM food -- Express newspaper (UK)

GM taken off winter menu -- Farmers Weekly (UK)

December 23

Prince's war on GM 'condemns world to starve' -- The Times (London)

December 22

California: Genetically altered foods face labeling -- Wall Street Journal 

Woolworths to clear its shelves of genetically engineered foods -- COMTEX Newswire

Firm's own canteen bans GM products -- The Guardian

December 21

Monsanto pays GM price/Controversial foods division to be spun off as pharmaceuticals groups merge -- The Guardian

Monsanto boss's vision now confronts reality -- Wall Street Journal

National Nutritional Foods Association asks FDA for stronger oversight of genetically modified foods -- NNFA press release

Genetically modified food banned in Monsanto staff cafeteria -- AP

GM food ban at Monsanto staff restaurant -- Reuters

Top UK retailer says no to GM animal feed -- Canadian News Wire

Agribiz fears dog Monsanto, Pharmacia -- Reuters

Nisshin to end use of GM crops for home products -- Reuters (Japan)

December 20

Are bio-foods safe? Despite the uproar, answers are hard to find -- Business Week

Gene is a four-letter word on Wall Street -- Business Week

Warning: Biotech is hurting itself -- Business Week

Rocky outlook for genetically engineered crops -- New York Times

Corporate America faces GM onslaught -- The Guardian

Monsanto's Shapiro seen as laid-back visionary -- Reuters

December 19

Biotech foods: second thoughts -- Los Angeles Times editorial

Biotech backer brings foes together -- St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Biotech companies running into trouble: Fears about altered genes in food put profits in jeopardy -- Deseret News (Utah)

Farmers suspicious of modified crops --UPI

Monsanto, Pharmacia & Upjohn agree to merge -- Reuters

December 18

US, EU agree on two-track approach for GMO talks -- Reuters 

December 17

Controversy of the year: GM foods under attack -- Science Magazine

Public misinformed on genetically modified foods -- New York Times

December 16

Anti-'Frankenfood' forces try a new tactic -- Time Magazine online

Monsanto: GM protesters file lawsuit -- Financial Times (London)

Genetically modified plants may still need pesticides -- New Scientist

European Union plans review of new GMO food labeling rules -- Reuters

Biotech crop allegations against Monsanto detailed -- Reuters

Justice Department probes Monsanto's gene-licensing pacts -- Dow Jones

December 15

Monsanto is sued over genetically altered crops -- Wall Street Journal

Farmers need not apologize for GM crops; Biotechnology a boon, not a bust -- Winnipeg Free Press column by farmer Dennis Rice

Anti-GM crusader says U.S. could join lawsuit -- Reuters Business Report

Europe: Greens welcome Monsanto suit, may be widened -- Reuters

Monsanto sued over use of biotechnology in developing seeds -- New York Times

Farmers' suit says Monsanto broke antitrust laws -- St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Monsanto sued over its seeds -- Washington Post

Dutch corn gluten market on hold on GMO worries -- Reuters World Report

Biotech foes vocal in U.S. but still a minority -- Reuters Business Report

Farmers to sue Monsanto -- ABC News via AP

Scientists sequence first complete plant chromosomes -- AP

NGFA corrects American Corn Growers press release on biotech contract issues -- National Grain and Feed Association press release  (See Dec. 14 for ACGA press release)

British green groups welcome Monsanto lawsuit -- Reuters

French farmer blames Monsanto for GM woes -- Reuters

December 14

Japan to tighten GMO approval procedures -- Reuters

GM food fears led to flood of calls, says M&S -- PA News

FDA hearing draws two sides of altered food issues -- New York Times

Raising the anti: For those fighting biotech crops, Santa comes early -- Wall Street Journal

U.S. groups to sue Monsanto over biotech crops -- Reuters

Landmark action against Monsanto -- BBC News Service

Monsanto survey says U.S. farmers back biotech -- Reuters

Corn growers believe elevator actions will reinforce farmer decisions to seek alternatives to GMOs -- American Corn Growers Association press release

Monsanto says lawsuit based on unfounded claims -- Monsanto press release

December 13

The 'Frankenfood' monster stalks Capitol Hill -- Business Week 

Clash over biotech food policies / Memoranda showing internal FDA dissent over regulating genetically engineered foods aired at hearings -- Chemical & Engineering News

Scientists in Italy study GM rice -- Reuters

European scientists recommend new Food Safety Authority -- Reuters

Survey shows U.S. acceptance of genetically modified foods slipping -- Bridge News

Canada: Top chefs want labels on genetically altered food -- CBC

European Union takes tough stand on GMO trade negotiations -- Reuters

As hearings conclude, FDA biotech policy should remain science-based, reassure consumers on safety - Grocery Manufacturers of America press release

Biotech battle of Seattle, and beyond -- MSNBC

Protesters rally vs. "Frankenfoods" -- AP

Farmer will testify at FDA hearing on altered foods -- San Francisco Chronicle

Altered-crop debate has farmers anxious - Chicago Sun-Times

Who's afraid of Frankenfood? So far, the movement against g.m. crops has been confined to Europe. But thanks to a little uncertainty and a lot of agitprop, that's changing - Time Asia

FDA plan jeopardizes food biotech -- San Francisco Chronicle column by Henry Miller, former director of the FDA's office of Biotechnology

Sowing seeds of fear -- Detroit News editorial

December 12

Feeding Frenzy: Americans are suddenly outraged about biotech food. What took so long? -- New York Times Sunday Magazine

Biotech, Third World style -- Los Angeles Times editorial

Both sides get to sound off on genetically modified food -- San Francisco Examiner

Crop busters / Self-righteous vandals lead a desperate, ill-informed campaign against genetically modified foods -- Michael Fumento article in January issue of Reason Magazine

December 11

Gene therapy firms resist publicity -- Washington Post

December 10 

European Union loath to use law on national GMO bans -- Reuters Financial Report

Monsanto genetically engineers cooking oil to fight vitamin A deficiencies -- St. Louis Post-Dispatch

NFPA proposes model for review of biotech foods -- National Food Processors Association press release

December 9 

Thailand urges UN body to settle biotech disputes -- Reuters

December 8

Monsanto campaign tries to gain support for gene-altered food -- New York Times

New genes meet a wary market -- Christian Science Monitor

Bigger pig could produce more pork, less waste -- AP

EPA mulls stricter testing for transgenic crops -- Reuters

U.S. farmers not shunning biotechnology - Farm group -- Reuters

December 7 

Greenpeace blocks U.S. corn shipment to Mexico -- Reuters

Activists fail to see good in biotech crops -- Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch opinion column by J. Winston Porter

Fed: Biotech control as important as in nuclear industry -- Australian Associated Press

Gene therapy yields bigger pigs -- AP

Brazil state pays farmers to rip out GM soybeans -- Reuters

December 6 

Consumers want GMO-free food, but who will pay? -- Reuters

Corn growers testify before FDA on issue of genetically modified crops  -- American Corn Growers Association press release

December 5

Trade talks fail as division on gene-altered food simmers -- St. Louis Post-Dispatch

The battle over genetically changed foods -- Scripps Howard News Service

Foes of biotechnology ignore global hunger -- Atlanta Journal-Constitution opinion column by C .S. Prakash

December 4

Farmers stick with biotech crops -- AP

Biotech attacks at home, at WTO -- National Post (Canada)

December 3

Chances bleak for biotech working group, US says -- Reuters

Swiss, British-Swedish firms merge huge seed operations -- AP

Greenpeace stages protest at Cargill France plant -- Reuters

European countries will join biotechnology talks -- St. Louis Post-Dispatch

California right to know initiative announced -- California Right to Know press release

US Agriculture officials note some progress on biotech at WTO -- Dow Jones

Be not afraid, use genetics to feed the world's hungry - Jack Kemp column, Los Angeles Times

December 2

New findings say genetically altered corn can poison the soil -- Christian Science Monitor

EU court upholds ban on animal growth promoters -- Reuters

Trojan gene spurs extinction warning -- Environmental News Network

Canada pushes GMOs at WTO, European countries fight back -- Greenpeace press release

EU biotech concession causes storm -- Reuters

GM crop toxin is leaking into the soil -- London Times

Novartis-AstraZeneca link turns up heat on Monsanto -- Reuters

Greenpeace blocks Europe's largest soybean importer, halts U.S. shipment -- Greenpeace press release

Ag-Biotech industry in trouble - analyst -- Saskatoon Star Phoenix

December 1

Coalition calls for moratorium on genetically engineered crops -- GREEN (GrassRoots Environmental Effectiveness Network) press release

Documents show officials disagreed on altered food -- New York Times

Tighten bio-food rules, consumers tell U.S. FDA -- Reuters

Cargill eyeing non-GM soy for European customers -- Reuters

WTO 'seizing control of GMO trade' -- BBC

European commission caves in on biotechnology working group -- IATP

EU ministers rap EC on WTO biotechnology concession -- Reuters

France opposes WTO working group on biotech issues -- Dow Jones

Canberra backs role on GM foods -- Sydney Morning Herald

Could one genetically modified fish invade a species and destroy it? -- Yahoo News

Growing evidence of widespread GMO contamination -- Environmental Science and Technology