GM corn and glyphosate science: Documents from Mexico-US trade dispute 

In 2023, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador issued a presidential decree restricting the use of genetically modified corn in tortillas and other minimally processed corn products to protect public health and the environment. The U.S. challenged those measures as unfair trade barriers under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Documents from the trade dispute are posted here.

New scientific analyses underpin Mexico’s restrictions on GM corn and glyphosate due to health risks

A new scientific analysis prepared by Mexico’s National Council for Humanities, Science and Technology, argues there are unacceptable health risks for Mexican people who consume genetically modified corn and glyphosate. 

Trade dispute: US can compel Mexico to accept GM corn for its tortillas

Mexico is not allowed to ban U.S.-grown genetically modified (GM) corn sprayed with glyphosate for use in tortillas under the U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA), a panel of arbitrators ruled Dec. 20.  The Biden Administration brought the case against Mexico under the USMCA in 2023 after Mexico banned GM corn from use in minimally processed ... Trade dispute: US can compel Mexico to accept GM corn for its tortillas

Leading scientist defends Mexico’s food sovereignty from GM corn and glyphosate

Dr. María Elena Álvarez-Buylla is an expert on the topic of genetic engineering who has co-authored dozens of papers about molecular genetics, ecology, evolution and related topics. She is a professor of molecular genetics, epigenetics, and development at Mexico’s National Autonomous University.  Until the end of September, Dr. Álvarez-Buylla was the head of Mexico’s national ... Leading scientist defends Mexico’s food sovereignty from GM corn and glyphosate

FOI lawsuits on origins of Covid-19, gain-of-function research and biolabs

U.S. Right to Know, a nonprofit newsroom and public health research group, has filed 36 lawsuits against federal and state agencies for violating Freedom of Information laws. The lawsuits are part of our efforts to uncover what is known about the origins of novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, leaks or mishaps at biosafety labs, and the risks ... FOI lawsuits on origins of Covid-19, gain-of-function research and biolabs

Common weedkiller glyphosate may be linked to liver disease epidemic, study warns 

Glyphosate, the world’s most widely used herbicide, may significantly raise the risk of an increasingly common chronic liver disease—even at low exposure levels, according to a new review of more than 40 scientific studies published over the past 17 years.

U.S. Right to Know: Top findings

U.S. Right to Know investigates corporate wrongdoing and government failures that threaten the health of people around the world. Over the past decade, we have obtained and reported on hundreds of thousands of pages of documents that shine light on how corporations and government agencies mislead the public. We share these documents free of charge ... U.S. Right to Know: Top findings

Social media is fueling the childhood obesity crisis, global study warns

In an era when digital devices increasingly dominate young people's lives, the social media industry is promoting unhealthy food consumption and behavior and contributing to the global childhood obesity epidemic, according to an international report.

Glyphosate poses widespread risks to female fertility and reproductive health: new research

Glyphosate, the world's most widely used herbicide, disrupts female hormones and damages the ovaries and uterus in ways that can make it more difficult for women to get pregnant, according to a new review of human and animal research. 

Expert report on the toxicity of agents contained in genetically engineered corn and the health risks associated to its consumption

Mexico – Measures Concerning Genetically Engineered Corn (MEX-USA-2023-31-01) By Professor Michael Antoniou, King’s College London, UKMay 28, 2024 Expert testimony before the Panel established pursuant to Chapter 31 (Dispute Settlement) of the Agreement between the United States of America, the United Mexican States and Canada (USMCA) Read the full report here. Summary This report provides ... Expert report on the toxicity of agents contained in genetically engineered corn and the health risks associated to its consumption

Critiques of Gates Foundation’s agricultural interventions in Africa

Critics say the Gates Foundation's push to expand chemical-intensive monocrop farming in Africa is exacerbating hunger, worsening inequality and entrenching corporate power in the world’s hungriest region.

Intrepid ‘virus hunter’ Peter Daszak flies in style

Senior virus hunters requested nearly $300,000 in government-funded business class flights

Jennifer Kahn’s ‘love GMOs’ NYT article is propaganda, not journalism

By Stacy Malkan Next week in Rome, world leaders will gather to discuss how to fix the food system amid one of the worst hunger crises in recent times. According to a new United Nations report on hunger, more than 2.37 billion people did not have adequate access to food in 2020. The Covid-19 pandemic ... Jennifer Kahn’s ‘love GMOs’ NYT article is propaganda, not journalism

Bill Gates’ plans to remake food systems will harm the climate

By Stacy Malkan In his book on how to avoid a climate disaster, billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates discusses his plans to model African food systems upon India’s “green revolution,” in which a plant scientist increased crop yields and saved a billion lives, according to Gates. The obstacle to implementing a similar overhaul in Africa, he ... Bill Gates’ plans to remake food systems will harm the climate

New glyphosate papers point to “urgency” for more research on chemical impact to human health

Newly published scientific papers illustrate the ubiquitous nature of the weed killing chemical glyphosate and a need to better understand the impact exposure to the popular pesticide may be having on human health, including the health of the gut microbiome. In one of the new papers, researchers from the University of Turku in Finland said ... New glyphosate papers point to “urgency” for more research on chemical impact to human health

Key pesticide industry PR group CBI closes; GMO Answers moves to CropLife

The Council for Biotechnology Information (CBI), a major public relations initiative launched two decades ago by leading agrichemical companies to persuade the public to accept GMOs and pesticides, has shut down. A spokesperson confirmed via email that CBI “dissolved at the end of 2019, and its assets, including the GMO Answers platform, were transferred to ... Key pesticide industry PR group CBI closes; GMO Answers moves to CropLife

Bayer settles U.S. Roundup, dicamba and PCB litigation for more than $10 billion

In an expensive clean-up of Monsanto litigation messes, Bayer AG said Wednesday that it will pay out more than $10 billion to settle tens of thousands of U.S. claims brought against Monsanto over its Roundup herbicide, as well as $400 million to resolve lawsuits over Monsanto’s dicamba herbicide and $650 million for PCB pollution claims. ... Bayer settles U.S. Roundup, dicamba and PCB litigation for more than $10 billion

Coronavirus Food News Tracker: Best articles on the pandemic and our food system

Covid-19 is exposing serious problems with our food system. In this post, U.S. Right to Know is tracking important food news news related to the coronavirus pandemic.To receiveweekly updates and breaking news from the USRTK investigations, please sign up for our newsletter. Topics (drop links) Most Recent Articles Obesity and Coronavirus Eating Ultra-processed Food Increases ... Coronavirus Food News Tracker: Best articles on the pandemic and our food system

Gift Ideas: Best 2019 Books and Movies About Our Food System 

If you like to give friends and family the gift of knowledge about our food, we’re here with recommendations for 2019 books and movies that illuminate the issues close to our hearts. At U.S. Right to Know, we believe that transparency – in the marketplace and in politics – is crucial to building a healthier ... Gift Ideas: Best 2019 Books and Movies About Our Food System 

An Unappetizing Analysis from the FDA

Last month the Food & Drug Administration published its latest annual analysis of the levels of pesticide residues that contaminate the fruits and veggies and other foods we Americans routinely put on our dinner plates. The fresh data adds to growing consumer concern and scientific debate over how pesticide residues in food may contribute – ... An Unappetizing Analysis from the FDA

ILSI is a Food Industry Lobby Group, Not a Public Health Group, Study Finds

News Release For Immediate Release: Sunday, June 2nd, 2019 at 8pm EDT For More Information Contact: Gary Ruskin +1 415 944-7350 or Sarah Steele +44 7768653130 The nonprofit International Life Science Institute claims to conduct “science for the public good” that “improves human health and well-being and safeguards the environment,” but really is a food ... ILSI is a Food Industry Lobby Group, Not a Public Health Group, Study Finds

Are You Ready for the New Wave of Genetically Engineered Foods?

A version of this article was first published in Common Ground Magazine March 2018 (PDF version) . By Stacy Malkan Everyone loves a feel-good story about the future. You’ve probably heard this one: high-tech foods enhanced by science will feed the 9 billion people expected on the planet by 2050. Food made in labs and ... Are You Ready for the New Wave of Genetically Engineered Foods?

CropLife International — key facts

Summary CropLife International (CLI) is a trade association founded in 2001 representing the manufacturers of the world’s largest manufacturers of genetically engineered seeds and pesticides. Members include BASF, Bayer, Monsanto, Syngenta, Corteva (formerly DowDuPont), Sumitomo Chemical and FMC. The trade group also has 15 member associations: AfricaBio; AgroBio Brazil; AgroBio Mexico; ArgenBio; Biotechnology Innovation Organization, ... CropLife International — key facts

Trump’s New CDC Pick Boosts Agency’s Ties To Coca Cola

See also: New York Times, by Sheila Kaplan, 7/22/2017: “New C.D.C. Chief Saw Coca-Cola as Ally in Obesity Fight” Forbes, Part 2 by Rob Waters, “The Coca-Cola Network: Soda Giant Mines Connections with Officials and Scientists to Wield Influence” By Rob Waters Part 1 of 2 stories For many years, The Coca-Cola Company, the world’s ... Trump’s New CDC Pick Boosts Agency’s Ties To Coca Cola

More Coca-Cola Ties Seen Inside U.S. Centers For Disease Control

In June, Dr. Barbara Bowman, a high-ranking official within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, unexpectedly departed the agency, two days after information came to light indicating that she had been communicating regularly with – and offering guidance to – a leading Coca-Cola advocate seeking to influence world health authorities on sugar and beverage ... More Coca-Cola Ties Seen Inside U.S. Centers For Disease Control

CDC Official Exits Agency After Coca-Cola Connections Come to Light

By Carey Gillam A veteran leader within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced her immediate departure from the agency on Thursday, two days after it came to light that she had been offering guidance to a leading Coca-Cola advocate who was seeking to influence world health authorities on sugar and beverage policy matters. ... CDC Official Exits Agency After Coca-Cola Connections Come to Light

Beverage Industry Finds Friend Inside U.S. Health Agency

This article was first published by Huffington Post. By Carey Gillam It’s been a rough year for Big Soda, sellers of those sugary soft drinks that kids (and adults) love to chug. A June 16 decision by city leaders in Philadelphia to impose a “soda tax” as a means to discourage consumption of beverages seen ... Beverage Industry Finds Friend Inside U.S. Health Agency

Gates-Funded Cornell Group Misfires in Protest of Vandana Shiva

Staging public protests seems like an odd way to depolarize a debate, yet the Cornell Alliance for Science—a public relations campaign funded by the Gates Foundation to “depolarize the charged debate” about GMOs—joined in a recent protest at Willamette University to confront Vandana Shiva, PhD, an Indian scholar, author and environmentalist. Joining self-described “science nerd” ... Gates-Funded Cornell Group Misfires in Protest of Vandana Shiva

American Beverage Association — key facts

Summary * TheAmerican Beverage Association is a trade group for the soda, soft drink and junk food industries *ABA was previously called the National Soft Drink Association *Some U.S. soft drinks contained BVO, a flame retardant; ABA says “so is water!” *While ABA defends use of a flame retardant in soda, Coke and Pepsi announced ... American Beverage Association — key facts