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Biotechnology and health

Russia wants you to hate GMOs

February 28, 2018

Misinformation attacks like those aimed at the US presidential race may be scaring people about genetic modification.

The news: Researchers from Iowa State University found that RT and Sputnik, two state-funded Russian news sites, were full of GMO-related articles—as many as Huffington Post, Fox News, CNN, Breitbart News, and MSNBC combined.

Throwing biotech shade: Most of the articles included “negative or distasteful” information about GMOs, according to the Des Moines Register. Others peddled fake conspiracy theories. One read: “GMO mosquitoes could be the cause of Zika outbreak, critics say.” 

Backstory: Russia has banned GMOs. According to RT (so consume with salt), Russia wants to be the leading exporter of organic food.

Seeds of doubt: GMOs are already divisive. To the Iowa State team, the work is proof that Russia is targeting fake news at the topic. But as Gizmodo notes, American anti-GMO outfits says the scientists are using research to silence credible media concerns. Don’t know who to believe? That’s kinda the point.

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Illustration by Rose Wong

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