The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today gave the ‘go-ahead’ to market a genetically-engineered (GE) rice variety. The crop named as LibertyLink601 (LL601) was in a mess just 3 months ago regarding its alleged contamination of food supply and rice exports. The approval to market this crop came as a shock, especially after the manufacturer Bayer crop science had shelved any plans of commercialization of the crop.
Joseph Mendelson, Legal Director of the Center for Food Safety,” With this decision, USDA is telling agricultural biotechnology companies that it doesn't matter if you're negligent, if you break the rules, if you contaminate the food supply with untested genetically engineered crops, we'll bail you out. In effect, USDA is sanctioning an 'approval-by-contamination' policy that can only increase the likelihood of untested genetically engineered crops entering the food supply in the future, and further erode trust in the wholesomeness of U.S. food overseas," he added.Source-Medindia
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