geekosystem

Proving the principle that putting the words "Causes Cancer" in a headline behind literally any other string of words will guarantee you some news coverage, a French study showing a link between cancer in rats and genetically modified corn has been getting a lot of play over the last couple of days, with a truly heartening proportion of the coverage calling shenanigans on the study. Today, author Gilles-Eric Seralini is defending the study, even as he refuses to turn over his data to ESFA, the European Union's food safety watchdog for a counter study.

The summer's record-setting drought is causing a spike in prices of commodities like corn, forcing farmers to get creative. When farmers get creative, lucky cows get sweet, sweet candy in their diets. Joseph Watson's cows do, at least. Watson is the proud owner of 1,400 head of cattle in Mayfield, Kentucky who used to get corn in their diets. Now, they get delicious candy instead.

Right? (via Pixdaus)

High-fructose corn syrup has picked up an increasingly bad name in recent years due to alleged links to obesity and liver disease, which may be why the Corn Refiners Association is petitioning the FDA to give it a new name: Corn sugar. In a press release, the group said that "Consumers need to know what is in their foods and where their foods come from and we want to be clear with them ... The term 'corn sugar' succinctly and accurately describes what this natural ingredient is and where it comes from – corn."