Monsanto Co. asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review a lower court's decision to ban the planting of genetically modified alfalfa until an environmental review is complete. The petition by Creve Coeur-based Monsanto argues that taking biotech alfalfa off the market creates an unnecessary burden for alfalfa hay and seed growers.

Salmonella infection in breeding pigs was the subject of a European survey in 2008. The prevalence of pig-breeding holdings infected with Salmonella was determined by microbiological culture of pooled pen faecal samples. The objective of this study was to estimate the sensitivity of pooled faecal sampling and to calculate the required sample sizes.

Laboratory-based surveillance by OzFoodNet in Australia and FoodNet in the USA indicated that the incidence of Campylobacter infections in 2001 in Australia was about nine times higher than in the USA. We assessed whether this disparity could be explained by differences in the frequency of stool culturing.

Data from the first sentinel site (Waterloo Region, Ontario) of the Canadian Integrated Enteric Disease Surveillance System (C-EnterNet) were used in a secondary-based case-control study of laboratory-confirmed Cryptosporidium infections to study the role of various exposure factors. The incidence of cryptosporidiosis in Waterloo Region was almost double both the provincial and national rates.

HOUMA -- Congressman Charlie Melancon today called on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to reverse a proposed ban on the sale of untreated raw oysters from the Gulf of Mexico during the summer months.

ROSEMONT, Ill. -- U.S. Foodservice, one of the country's premier foodservice distributors, today announced a partnership with the Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA) making the company the first broadline food distributor in the United States to offer its customers farm-raised seafood certified as sustainable under the Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification logo.

As scientists race the clock to increase food production worldwide, new trials to plant genetically-modified maize have stoked anger in Mexico, the cradle of corn. Many here are sensitive about meddling with maize, which dates back to pre-Hispanic times, when mythologies held that people were created from corn.

OTTAWA -- In 2007, Health Canada initiated a policy review on the use of precautionary labelling of priority allergens on pre-packaged foods. The department has now completed its review and is preparing to consult with stakeholders and the Canadian public on the various policy options.

Daniel Mataruka is director of the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) in Nairobi. The non-profit organization aims to improve the lives and agricultural output of resource-poor farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. Mataruka spoke with AllAfrica.com’s Cindy Shiner about some of the foundation’s projects and prospects for genetically modified (GM) crops on the continent.