Recently NPR ran a story reporting that the GM purple tomato, genetically engineered with genes from snapdragons to contain high levels of the antioxidant anthocyanin, is now on sale to home gardeners in the US. But there are lingering doubts about whether it's safe to eat – and that even applies to the intended change of high antioxidant levels, let alone the GM process-induced unintended changes. And dubious claims about the tomato’s supposed “cancer-fighting” ability have resurfaced. GMWatch

 

 

A GM banana claimed to be resistant to Panama disease has been given approval for consumption in Australia. The GM banana has been developed as an industry back-up in case Panama TR4 disease breaks out, but will not replace the Cavendish variety. Scientists used a gene from a wild banana that is almost immune to the disease and placed it in a Cavendish variety. The GM banana was developed by Prof James Dale, leader of the banana biotechnology program at the Queensland University of Technology. [GMW: This GM banana has not undergone any testing for impacts on health or the environment, as far as we know.] ABC News

 

 

Prof Michael Antoniou explains how glyphosate herbicide exposure can affect our health and how we can minimise our exposure to this and other pesticides in a podcast interview hosted by two functional medicine doctors. Five Journeys

 

 

Bayer AG plans to slash its dividend by 95% in an effort to dig itself out of a hole created by the acquisition of Monsanto that saddled the German company with massive debt and waves of litigation. While a dividend cut was expected, the reduction highlights the challenges facing the drug and crop sciences company as it tries to stem its cash drain, rebuild its pharmaceutical pipeline and recover from the $63 billion takeover of the owner of Roundup herbicide in 2018. CNBC TV

 

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