Articles by Grist staff

Soy Triste

Despite consumer concerns about genetically engineered food, especially in Europe and Japan, the biotech industry believes it has nearly won the battle to make the foods ubiquitous. The U.S., Brazil, and Argentina account for about 90 percent of the world’s corn and soybean exports, and the U.S. and Argentina now ship mostly genetically engineered varieties. […]

Pink Flawed

Scores of flamingos have been found dead in western Kenya, reviving concerns that pollution is killing off the birds. The numbers of dead birds aren’t as high as in some past years — 40,000 flamingos died over three months in 1993 and 20,000 died in 1995 — but researchers say many of the remaining birds […]

Blue Light Special: $14 Dollar Apes!

Despite laws against eating endangered species like bonobo apes, meat from half an ape goes for $7 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, far less expensive than the price for beef and easier to get than chicken. Bonobos are on the brink of extinction due to war, habitat loss, and a big-time bush-meat industry. Fewer […]

Modified in China

The Chinese government unveiled new regulations yesterday for genetically engineered foods that they hope will make the use of the technology more widespread. Genetically engineered cotton, soybeans, rice, potatoes, and other crops are already commonly planted in the country. Among other things, the rules require that genetically engineered foods be clearly labeled on packages. Chinese […]