Friday, April 15, 2005

Frankenbeer

Anheuser-Busch Cos., America's largest brewer, has threatened that it will not buy rice from farmers in Missouri if the state approves planting of GMO rice designed to manufacture human proteins for drugs. The company is the largest buyer of rice in the United States.

The fear is that the rice will cross-pollinate with other varieties and that rice used for food (or, in this case, beer) will be contaminated with pharmaceuticals. The drug maker insists there will be no cross-pollination because the rice it uses is self-pollinating. Does that mean that no pollen can reach other plants and interact with them? I'm not sure about this. If anyone knows the answer, let me know.

But, the claim that GMO crops can be effectively segregated from non-GMO crops has already proven to be false as I've discussed in two previous posts here and here.

Anheuser-Busch Cos. has figured out that its famous beer brands will not withstand the label "Frankenbeer." Will other major food and beverage makers in the United States finally see the light?

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