China Fires Health Officials Who Sanctioned Secret Feeding Of Genetically Modified Rice To Kids
Golden Rice Compared to regular white rice, "golden" rice, at the top, has been genetically modified to produce beta carotene, a precursor to vitamin A. International Rice Research Institute via WikipediaParents were told the rice contained beta carotene, but weren't informed that it was thanks to genetic engineering. Chinese leaders have fired three government officials involved in a study of genetically modified rice, after complaints that the study's subjects weren't properly informed. The subjects were kids whose parents didn't know what their kids were eating. The study involves golden rice, a goldenrod-colored form of the grain developed more than a decade ago for the express purpose of addressing vitamin A deficiency in developing countries. It has been alternately hailed as a humanitarian breakthrough and denigrated as an empty promise to the poor--but one thing it has not been is actually approved for use. The study at the heart of this new...