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Budweiser Vetos Genetically Modified Rice

Posted by timothy on from the squeeze-in-a-cheap-shot dept.

fishdan writes "Anheuser-Busch the makers of Budweiser and other beers, has stated that they will not buy rice from Missouri if genetically modified crops are allowed in the state. Budweiser is claimed to be the best selling beer in the world Bud Light is the second best selling. I wonder about the stats of Tsing Tao I'm not sure what they're afraid of from genetically modified rice. Do they think their beer could get any worse?"

6 of 142 comments (clear)

  1. They are afraid... by jangobongo · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I'm not sure what they're afraid of from genetically modified rice.

    They are afraid that they will lose customers. Since the public has not made up its mind as to whether genetically modified foods are safe to ingest, Budweiser does not want to alienate anyone who purchases their products.

    Remember, people are afraid of the unknown. "Will it cause cancer?", "Am I going to turn into a mutant??", etc.

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    Sig cancelled due to lack of interest
    1. Re:They are afraid... by moof1138 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      This has nothing to do with cancer fears or even GM food. The modified rice is genetically enhanced with synthetic human genes to produce lactoferrin and lysozyme, which are intended to be used in medicines so they would be very likely affect someone who consumed them. They are afraid that the modified rice could cross pollinate with standard rice. It is well known that pollen can travel large distances, so the possibility of contamination is very real and could in theory have serious negative consequences. It may be that their concerns are unfounded, but that is really something that only an expert could make the call on.

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      Hyperbole is the worst thing ever.
  2. Re:To hear many foreigners talk about US beer by Uber+Banker · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I RTFA, and this really isn't so much about GM rice, more about other effects of GM, but no doubt the GPs point is still valid.

    To answer your question:
    Budweiser is by far the most widely consumed US originated beer here in the UK. That is if you call it beer. Having lived in the US for some time I appreciated most beer sold in bars was very cold (glasses often kept in a fridge), very fizzy (unless the bar was out of CO2/N) and quite tasteless. That wasn't/isn't always a bad thing - if dehydrated I don't know what could be nicer than a watery cold drink - and if going out with the aim of getting drunk I don't think the quality matters after the second pint - but if drinking beer for beer the taste is extremely important and that's what US mass brews lack - taste. If looking for a fizzy somewhat (but not very) tasty beer that will deliver sugars in your blood Bud is a good choice of many (bar excellent German lagers which are not highly available in the US).

    This is not to dismiss US beer as a whole, micro-brew is a massively growing industry and has some excellent choices. But to drink beer for being beer ice cold piss isn't always good. If you're not a big beer drinker why not try something like Old Speckeld Hen or whatever local micro-brew markets itself as strong in taste, it could give you a fresh perspective.

  3. Since... by Louse · · Score: 1, Insightful

    GMO = sick.sick.sick. natural foods/meats and their cultivation are the keystones to human-thought evolution. Modifying them isnt part of cultivation, it's bastardizing an organism's growth process for profit. Plants/animals function in periods of seasons, and to try and alter that effects the nature of the plants ability to mature - which can deminish the amount of nutrients in the organism, and its consumer.

    1. Re:Since... by exp(pi*sqrt(163)) · · Score: 2, Insightful
      natural foods/meats and their cultivation are the keystones to human-thought evolution.
      Are they? I've been eating processed foods all my life and I can still think. On the other hand I haven't evolved recently so maybe you have a point.
      Modifying them isnt part of cultivation
      That's an uninteresting semantic quibble.
      it's bastardizing an organism's growth process
      Emotional language like this suggests you've retired your ability to actually think.
      for profit.
      What does that have to do with it? Why do you think people sell organic foods or work on organic farms? For love? Actually, it's for profit.
      Plants/animals function in periods of seasons
      Eh? Do you know any biology.
      and to try and alter
      "Try and". That's horrible writing.
      that effects
      Affects, affects, affects.
      the nature of the plants ability to mature - which can deminish the amount of nutrients in the organism,
      Do you have a citation to a paper you can post to back up your claims.
      and its consumer.
      Well, if you're not eating GMO foods I suggest you examine your diet closely to find out what's inhibiting your thought-evolution.
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      Doesn't it make you feel good to know that our freedoms are protected by politicans, lawyers and journalists.
  4. Simple by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Real men drink only Real beer, not some suped up, GMO'd, fancy-pants lab engineered, hyper-modern Monsonto @!$#%. PERIOD