Biotech giant Monsanto has been awarded yet another victory by the federal government thanks to a recent Environmental Protection Agency decision to allow larger traces of the herbicide glyphosate in farm-grown foods.<\/p>\n
\n Despite a number of studies linking exposure to the chemical with
\n diseases including types of cancer, the EPA is increasing the
\n amount of glyphosate allowed in oilseed and food crops.\n<\/p>\n
\n The EPA announced their plans on May 1 and allowed critics two
\n months to weigh in and object to the ruling. Following little
\n opposition, though, the EPA is on path to soon approve of levels
\n of glyphosate being found in crops several times over the current
\n concentration.\n<\/p>\n
\n Glyphosate, a weed-killing chemical developed by Monsanto in
\n 1970, is the key ingredient in the company\u2019s \u201cRoundup\u201d label of
\n herbicides. In the decades since, Monsanto has created and
\n patented a number of genetically-modified organisms and
\n genetically-engineered crops resisted to glyphosate that are sold
\n worldwide under the company\u2019s \u201cRoundup Ready\u201d brand. Those GMO
\n products are then planted in fields where glyphosate, namely
\n Roundup, is used en masse to eliminate weeds from taking over
\n harvest. With scientists linking that chemical to cancerous
\n diseases, though, critics decry the EPA decision and caution it
\n could do more harm than good.\n<\/p>\n
\n Through the EPA\u2019s new standards, the amount of allowable
\n glyphosate in oilseed crops such as flax, soybeans and canola
\n will be increased from 20 parts per million (ppm) to 40 ppm,
\n which GM Watch acknowledged is over 100,000 times the
\n amount needed to induce breast cancer cells. Additionally, the
\n EPA is increasing limits on allowable glyphosate in food crops
\n from 200 ppm to 6,000 ppm.\n<\/p>\n
\n Just last month, The Cornucopia Institute concluded a study<\/a> by finding glyphosate \u201cexerted \n \u201cNegative impact on the body is insidious and manifests slowly \n Dr. Don M. Huber, emeritus professor of plant pathology at Purdue \n A press release issued by the group Beyond Pesticides criticized \n In the past, Monsanto has long-defended their use of the
\n proliferative effects in human hormone-dependent breast
\n cancer<\/i>.\u201d A similar study<\/a> released in April concluded that
\n \u201cglyphosate enhances the damaging effects of other food borne
\n chemical residues and environmental toxins<\/i>.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n over time as inflammation damages cellular systems throughout the
\n body<\/i>,\u201d independent scientist Anthony Samsel and MIT\u2019s
\n Stephanie Seneff concluded in the April study<\/a>. \u201cConsequences are most of the diseases and
\n conditions associated with a Western diet, which include
\n gastrointestinal disorders, obesity, diabetes, heart disease,
\n depression, autism, infertility, cancer and Alzheimer\u2019s
\n disease<\/i>.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n University, found in yet another examination<\/a> that \u201cGlyphosate draws out
\n the vital nutrients of living things<\/i>,\u201d in turn removing most
\n nutritional value from GMO foods.\n<\/p>\n
\n the decision as well. \u201cGiven that alternative methods of
\n growing food and managing weeds are available, like those that
\n exist in organic agriculture, it is unreasonable for EPA to
\n increase human exposures to Roundup<\/i>,\u201d they wrote.\n<\/p>\n
\n chemical. \u201cWe are very confident in the long track record that
\n glyphosate has<\/i>,\u201d Jerry Stainer, Monsanto\u2019s executive vice
\n president of sustainability, stated previously. \u201cIt has been
\n very, very extensively studied<\/i>.\u201d\n<\/p>\n