For related articles and more information, please visit OCA’s Genetic Engineering page and our Millions Against Monsanto page.
Philadelphia — Monsanto, a major biotech corporation responsible for genetically modifying many staple foods, has been given the Worst Company of 2011 Award for threatening both human health and the environment. The award was given by natural health information website NaturalSociety after thousands of readers voted Monsanto the worst company of 2011.

Numerous scientific studies have found Monsanto’s GMO crops, herbicides, and biopesticides to be a danger to the planet. A review of 19 studies announced that consumption of GMO corn or soybeans may lead to significant organ disruptions in rats and mice – particularly in the liver and kidneys. The researchers also mentioned that GMO soybean and corn varieties contribute to “83% of the commercialized GMOs” that you may currently be consuming if you purchase conventional produce. Monsanto’s best-selling herbicide Roundup has also been found to create superweeds that are heavily resistant to herbicides, which are estimated to now consume over 120 million hectares worldwide.

The award is intended to bring awareness to these environmental issues, which are continually being recognized by nations worldwide. Hungary, Peru, and France are among the countries who have spoken out against Monsanto and GMO crops alike. Hungary recently destroyed 1,000 acres of maize found to have been grown with genetically modified seeds, according to Hungary deputy state secretary of the Ministry of Rural Development Lajos Bognar. Peru has also instituted a 10-year ban on genetically modified ingredients, after a recent test conducted by the Peruvian Association of Consumers and Users (ASPEC) found that 77 percent of supermarket products tested contained GM contaminants.

“Considering the fact that Monsanto’s global GMO push has threatened environmental and human health alike, I think NaturalSociety labeling them Worst Company of 2011 is very suiting,” said Sayer Ji, President of GreenMedInfo.com.