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GM mosquito trial will not significantly impact environment-FDA

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Friday that a field trial testing Intrexon Corp's genetically engineered mosquitoes, meant to be used in the battle against Zika, would not have a significant impact on the environment. The company wants to conduct a trial in the Florida Keys to assess the effectiveness of the genetically modified mosquitoes in reducing populations of Aedes mosquitoes, which can spread diseases including Zika, dengue, yellow fever and chikungunya. Florida began aerial spraying on Thursday to kill mosquitoes in a Miami neighborhood with the first U.S. spread of the Zika virus.

Chipotle takes genetically modified foods off menus

US fast-food chain Chipotle said Monday it had crossed off food made with genetically modified organisms (GMO) from its menus, saying they haven't been proven safe for consumption and the environment. “There is a lot of debate about genetically modified foods,” said Steve Ells, Chipotle's founder, chairman and co-chief executive, in a statement. The fast-growing Chipotle Mexican Grill, which has built its brand on “food with integrity”, began disclosing the presence of controversial GMO ingredients in its food in March 2013, and promised to eliminate all of them. The company said government data shows that 94 percent of corn and 93 percent of soybeans grown in the US came from GMO strains in 2014, making it difficult for consumers to avoid consuming genetically engineered foods in restaurants or buying them at the grocery store.