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Would You Like Some Pesticide with Your Peanut Butter? 
Monsanto, the company responsible for 91 percent of the genetically engineered food and fiber crops worldwide, has been fined $1.5 million by the U.S. Justice Department and Securities and Exchange Commission for bribing Indonesian officials to view its pesticide-tolerant cotton favorably. The bribes didn't work -- in January of 2003, Monsanto ceased sales of genetically engineered (GE) cotton in Indonesia due to "regulatory uncertainties." Unfortunately, the presumed motive for genetically engineering cotton, i.e. to produce better cotton, failed also. GE cotton is resistant to herbicides (weed-killing pesticides) so growers can spray a broad spectrum of pesticides liberally, without harming the crop. The pesticides don't kill GE cotton, but they do contaminate it. GE cotton is grown for the fiber but also for the cottonseed oil, which is found in several food products, including vegetable oils, salad dressing, chips, crackers, cookies, pastries, and peanut butter. The excess pesticides in the field in turn contaminate the soil, run-off water, and air, adding to environmental dangers. Another big failure of GE cotton is that encouraging the use of ever-increasing amounts and types of pesticides breeds pesticide resistant weeds. So not only is the cotton resistant to the pesticides, but the pests are too. What's the solution? More pesticides, of course, more contamination of soil, ground water, and our food. My Thoughts:
"Monsanto Fined Over Bribes in Indonesia"
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