(Organic Slant) Cinnamon: Can the red-brown spice with the unmistakable fragrance and variety of uses offer an important benefit? The common baking spice might hold the key to delaying the onset of –– or warding off –– the effects of Alzheimer’s disease. That is, according to Roshni George and Donald Graves, scientists at UC Santa […]
Human Genes Engineered into GMO Rice
(Organic Slant) Unless the rice you buy is certified organic, or comes specifically from a farm that tests its rice crops for genetically modified (GM) traits, you could be eating rice tainted with actual human genes. The only known GMO with inbred human traits in cultivation today, a GM rice product made by biotechnology company Ventria […]
FDA List of Completed Consultations on Bioengineered Foods
(Organic Slant) The FDA provides a list of such foods in its inventory of completed consultations on bioengineered foods. The inventory below lists all completed consultations on bioengineered foods evaluated under FDA’s 1992 Statement of Policy: Foods Derived from New Plant Varieties. More information about this inventory is available on the Introduction page to the FDA List of Completed […]
Dandelion: Medical powerhouse or lawn weed
(Organic Slant) Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) has a bad reputation as nothing more than a pesky week. Like most other weeds that people regard as a mere nuisance, dandelion has scientifically-proven medicinal properties. It has been used as a healing and preventative herb for centuries. And currently it’s one of the top herbs being researched by […]
Pineapple Enzyme Bromelain has Cancer-Fighting Abilities
(Organic Slant) Published in 2007 in the journal Planta Medica, researchers found that an enzyme extracted from pineapple stems known as bromelain was superior to the chemo-agent 5-fluorauracil in treating cancer in the animal model. The researchers stated: This antitumoral effect [bromelain] was superior to that of 5-FU [5-fluorouracil], whose survival index was approximately 263 %, relative to […]
Del Monte testing genetically modified pineapple
Genetically modified pineapple grown in Costa Rico by Del Monte Fresh Produce Co. Inc. gained the approval of the U.S. Department of Agriculture earlier this year. However, according to a statement from Del Monte officials April 26, the new pineapple variety — dubbed Rosé — is “in a testing phase.” “The USDA’s decision does not […]
Solar Panels as Inexpensive as Paint?
(Organic Slant) Most Americans want the U.S. to place more emphasis on developing solar power, recent polls suggest. A major impediment, however, is the cost to manufacture, install and maintain solar panels. Simply put, most people and businesses cannot afford to place them on their rooftops. Fortunately, that is changing because researchers such as Qiaoqiang […]
US EPA Hikes Glyphosate Limits in Food and Feed
(Organic Slant) The US EPA is proposing to hike the allowed residue limits — yet again — of the herbicide glyphosate in various food and feed crops. The allowed level in teff animal feed will be 100 parts per million (ppm); and in oilseed crops, 40 ppm. Allowed levels in some fruits and vegetables eaten […]
Roundup disrupts normal body functions to induce disease
(Organic Slant) A report released out of MIT suggests that heavy use of the world’s most popular herbicide, Roundup, could be linked to a range of health problems and diseases, including Parkinson’s, infertility and cancers. The dangers associated with exposure to Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide are becoming incontrovertible, with the latest indictment of this deadly chemical cocktail […]
Study Proves Bt Toxins in GMOs Toxic to Mammalian Blood
(Organic Slant) According to a new study, the ‘Cry’ toxins that Monsanto’s GMO crops have been genetically modified to produce are a lot more toxic to mammals than previously thought, primarily to the blood. Dr. Mezzomo and his team from the Department of Genetics and Morphology at the Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasilia recently performed […]