The great (GMO potato) debate

The debate on the safety of genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, in the food industry continues to evolve, but it still leaves question marks in the minds of many. For example, recent discoveries have allowed scientists to modify potatoes so they develop with fewer bruises and black spots, and when fried, produce a much smaller […]

January 21st, 2015 | Category: Agriculture, Food industry | Tags: , , , , , | Comments are closed

Tox Tuesday: Salicylates

[ SPANISH ] When taking aspirin for pain or fever, the most active component of the drug is acetylsalicylic acid. Aspirin is a member of the salicylates family and will eventually be metabolized to salicylic acid when taken. Salicylic acid’s anti-inflammatory properties are not just for aches and pains, the anti-inflammatory acid is also used […]

June 10th, 2014 | Category: Spanish, Toxicology | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments are closed

Scientists develop potatoes that ‘resist late blight’

Late blight is a plant disease that can devastate a potato crop, and was responsible for the Great Famine in Ireland in 1846 to 1852.

The disease is caused by the fungus-like organism Phytophthora infestans, a pathogen specialized to infect potato plants and, to a lesser extent, tomato plants. The pathogen is of particular concern […]

April 3rd, 2014 | Category: Agriculture, Food industry, Plant diagnostics (Phytodiagnostics) | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Comments are closed

Potato famine pathogen “more virulent”

The pathogen that caused a famine that killed a million people in the 1800s is more virulent today than it was two centuries ago, researchers have found.

Researchers from North Carolina State University and the University of Copenhagen compared genes from five 19th century strains of Phytophthora infestans, the pathogen behind the potato blight, to […]

July 25th, 2013 | Category: Plant diagnostics (Phytodiagnostics) | Tags: , , , , , | Comments are closed

Researchers identify strain linked to Irish Potato Famine

A plant pathogen strain responsible for a famine that killed a million people in 19th century Ireland has been identified by United Kingdom researchers.

The study, led by The Sainsbury Laboratory, identified an early strain of Phytophthora infestans as the pathogen responsible for the blight that caused the Irish Potato Famine, according to the BBC.

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May 31st, 2013 | Category: Plant diagnostics (Phytodiagnostics) | Tags: , , , , , , | Comments are closed

Get up to speed with the Monday links

Don’t have time to scour the internet for the latest food safety, animal safety, life sciences and agriculture news? Relax, we’ve got it covered.

Food safety

Peanut allergies more common in kids from wealthy families – Huffington Post Food

One explanation could be the hygiene hypothesis, which states growing up and living in clean environments […]

November 19th, 2012 | Category: Animal safety, Food industry | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments are closed