U.S. food crops widely contaminated by genetically modified seed.

• Author: Ayres, Ed
• Position: Environmental Intelligence - Brief Article

A study by the U.S.-based Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) has found evidence that DNA sequences from genetically modified (GM) crops have found their way into many of the country's conventional food crops. GM crops have been developed to produce proteins for healing wounds and treating diseases, or to manufacture industrial chemicals, but are supposed to be kept out of traditional food. However, in tests of traditional varieties of corn, soybeans, and canola conducted for UCS by two commercial laboratories, DNA sequences from GM crops were found in up to 1 percent of individual seeds and in more than half of the batches of seeds.

UCS microbiologist Margaret Mellon, who directed the study, commented, "This study shatters the...