USDA seeks comments for Monsanto and Dow GE crops

The United States Department of Agriculture has announced its approval of a novel strain of genetically engineered corn, developed by Monsanto, purportedly being “drought tolerant”, the Cornucopia Institute reports. Despite receiving nearly 45,000 public comments in opposition to this particular genetically engineered (GE) corn variety and only 23 comments in favor, the Obama administration gave Monsanto the green light to release its newest GE corn variety freely into the environment and American food supply, without any governmental oversight or safety tracking.
 

In addition to its announcement approving Monsanto’s newest GE corn variety, the USDA also opened a 60-day public comment period for two additional petitions – one for Monsanto’s GE soybean containing higher levels of an omega-3 fatty acid that does not naturally occur in soybeans, and the other from Dow AgroSciences for corn that has been genetically engineered to better resist the poisonous herbicide 2,4-D. While the USDA attempts to assure the public that 2,4-D is safe, scientists have raised serious concerns about the safety of this herbicide, which was used as a key ingredient in “Agent Orange,” used to defoliate forests and croplands in the Vietnam War. 2,4-D is a chlorophenoxy herbicide, and scientists around the world have reported increased cancer risks in association with its use, especially for soft tissue sarcoma and malignant lymphoma. 

Four separate studies in the United States reported an association with chlorophenoxy herbicide use and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, the Cornucopia Institute reports. Research by the EPA found that babies born in counties with high rates of 2,4-D application to farm fields were significantly more likely to be born with birth defects of the respiratory and circulatory systems, as well as defects of the musculoskeletal system.  

The Cornucopia Institute