where food and science meet — by James Cooper
Search Results for: roundup
You have probably read about the verdict in California where a jury awarded the plaintiff, Dewayne Johnson $280 million in damages because he developed non-Hodgkins lymphoma while working as a groundskeeper and using Roundup. You never know how juries make their decisions, as attorney and farmer, Amanda Zaluckyj explains. But we can be sure, that … Continue reading Roundup verdict in California: nothing to do with science
Yes, the above picture is definitely of poison ivy. In this late spring/early summer season, the question “is that poison ivy?” comes up really often on-line and in real conversations with actual people. The slogan “leaves of three, let them be” is a little too general to be helpful and even then people still seem … Continue reading Is that poison ivy?
GMOs Decoded is Tufts Professor Sheldon Krimsky’s latest skeptical discussion on the virtues of plant biotechnology. Unlike his previous book, The GMO Deception, Krimsky here appears at first to take a more nuanced approach, by taking about eight of his fourteen chapters to explain the details of various biotechnology issues. The book opens with a … Continue reading ‘GMOs Decoded’ –Krimsky’s latest screed
The Nation is a venerable magazine, having been founded in 1865, and for over 150 years has been providing political commentary, mostly on US administrations and events. While it writers skew to the left, this is not entirely the case and major writers have included Henry James, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Frederick Law Olmsted, W.E.B. Dubois, … Continue reading ‘The Nation” spreads farming misinformation like a manure spreader
This 2015 review is being republished in advance of my forthcoming review of Krimsky’s latest book. Sheldon Krimsky, Professor of Humanities & Social Sciences at Tufts University has published another in a series of articles and books attacking the safety of genetically modified plants (GMOs). Professor Krimsky’s appointment is in the Department of Urban & Environmental … Continue reading Sheldon Krimsky publishes more anti-GMO malarkey
The scientific world was astonished (to put it mildly) when the IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer), a sub-unit of the WHO declared that Roundup (glyphosate) probably causes cancer, putting an herbicide that has been in use for over 40 years into their Group 2A. Their report was published initially as a summary in … Continue reading No, Roundup does not cause cancer
Everyone with an axe to grind about “evil chemicals” has been repeating the questionable finding of the IARC that glyphosate (Roundup’s main ingredient) is “probably carcinogenic.” The IARC is a subcommittee of the WHO, so the opponents of science were saying that the WHO said that glyphosate causes cancer. They didn’t. The IARC made no … Continue reading The WHO and the UN: Roundup is not carcinogenic
The New York Times yesterday highlighted the farmer’s co-op Organic Valley, talking about their new half million dollar web site and their emphasis on “highlighting their authenticity.” Well, we had to take a look at the web site that the Times referred to, and found a number of lovely feel-good pictures of rural bliss (and … Continue reading Organic Valley highlights inauthenticity with the usual lies
This column was originally published in June, 2015, but still seems relevant. Dear Senator Sanders: I am writing to you as one of your supporters. I have made (for me) a substantial contribution to your campaign for President. But I must disagree with your column in the Huffington Post as well a recent statements urging … Continue reading No, Bernie, you’re wrong. GMOs should not be labeled
Consumer Reports a year or so ago reversed itself and began taking anti-science stances against biotechnology, because catering to the prejudices of their readers is more profitable than standing for actual science. Porterfield describes this volte face away from science here. Its latest salvo into things it barely understands is hyping a poorly argued paper … Continue reading Consumer Reports flogs bogus Roundup paper
Food Science Institute 