Facts missing from Monsanto story

To the editor:

Your front page article on Monsanto's gene manipulation ('GMO wheat in the works, again,” Jan. 19) was no more than a news release for this aggressive company.

It touted the supposed benefits of genetically modified plants, but failed to mention such notable facts that many European countries such as Germany and France have banned the cultivation of GMO maize. Nor did the canned story you bought from the St. Louis Dispatch mention the controversy surrounding the severe decline of the bee population and links to Monsanto's GMO crops.

But the worst part of this supposed 'news” story comes at the last paragraph where the writer states that although there still is controversy over GMO's and wheat production, we shouldn't be concerned about corn because 'Corn, soybeans, and cotton generally aren't considered food.” Really? That would be a shock to the billions of people around the world who eat popcorn at every movie theater and many sports events, as well as anyone who buys and consumes corn in any form that is grown right here in Iowa.

Kim Reed

Cedar Rapids