The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced Thursday, Nov. 19, 2015, that it has approved for the first time a genetically engineered (GE) animal intended for food. That animal is the AquAdvantage Salmon, which was developed about 25 years ago by AquaBounty Technologies Inc. of Maynard, MA, to grow larger and faster, year-round, and…
Research Shows GE Plants Produce Proteins Able to Reduce E. Coli on Food
A team of scientists is genetically engineering plants to produce antimicrobial proteins known as colicins, which can then be extracted and applied to contaminated meat and produce to kill E. coli bacteria. In a study published earlier this month in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the team engineered tobacco, leafy beets, spinach,…
USDA Gives GE Potato ‘Nonregulated’ Status
Officials with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced Friday, Aug. 28, 2015, that they had made a determination of “nonregulated status” for the Innate potato, which is genetically engineered to resist late blight and black spot bruising. This Russet Burbank variety was developed by the J.R. Simplot Company,…
Organic Industry Wants Biotechnology Regulated By Process, Not Product
About 40 activist organizations that usually can be counted upon to rally with the organic industry against genetically engineered (GE) plants and animals did just that on Monday. They weighed in with a letter to USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) for the federal regulation of biotechnology products. APHIS has been inviting such…
Witnesses Tell House Agriculture Committee GE Foods are Safe, Don’t Need Labels
All six witnesses at Tuesday’s House Committee on Agriculture hearing argued against mandatory biotechnology labeling laws. Most of their testimony praised the efficiency they believe GE crops provide to farmers and enumerated the costs they say labeling would inflict on farmers, manufacturers and consumers. 
But they also brought up the safety concerns surrounding GE food.…
USDA Approves Apples Genetically Engineered to Resist Browning
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has decided to approve new types of apples that have been genetically engineered not to brown as quickly after being cut. Okanagan Specialty Fruits Inc., the company that developed the Arctic Granny and Arctic Golden varieties is currently engaging in a voluntary food safety assessment consultation with the Food and…
GE Salmon Company Fined Over Permit Problems in Panama
The government of Panama has revealed that, in July of this year, it levied a fine on AquaBounty Technologies, the Massachusetts-based company seeking government approval to bring the first genetically modified salmon to market in the U.S. AquaBounty apparently did not have the necessary water use and water discharge permits necessary for running its operations…
No Marijuana Exemption in CO Initiative to Label GMOs
A Colorado ballot initiative looks like it will make this fall’s general-election ballot after spending less than one-tenth of the amount spent to put a similar measure before Oregon voters in November. 
Both proposals call for labels on food made with genetically engineered ingredients. Colorado’s Initiative 48 should make the ballot with about $90,000 spent.…