For related articles and more information, please visit OCA’s Geneticly Engineering page and our Cloning & Patenting page.
Europeans have made it abundantly clear time and time again that they want nothing to do with genetically-modified organisms (GMOs). But chemical giant BASF refuses to take no for an answer, and is once again pushing for EU approval of a “Frankenpotato” known as Fortuna that, if approved, would represent the EU’s second new legalized GMO in more than a decade.

Unlike most Americans, Europeans generally take a keen interest in the integrity of their food supply, and are very outspoken against government actions that promote tampering with it. This is a big reason why GMOs have to be properly labeled throughout Europe, and why most recent attempts to legalize more “Frankencrops” in the EU have failed.

But the EU Commission is gradually easing up to the idea of approving more GMOs, despite widespread public opposition. Last year, for instance, BASF fought hard to gain EU approval for Amflora, another GM potato designed for making industrial-use starch, and the company succeeded.

Though more than a million Europeans signed a petition to block Amflora’s approval, it was eventually forced through without proper independent studies verifying safety. In response, activists in Sweden created a human shield at the BASF facility where Amflora was to be planted (http://www.naturalnews.com/032544_B…).