The European Union is all too happy to allow consumers to eat potentially dangerous bug-based food, yet it remains hostile to low-risk biotech crops and many pesticides. The hypocrisy is palpable. Is pesticides use "exploding"? Activist groups say "yes," though the evidence tells a different story. How can public health officials rebuild America's trust in science after three years of controversial pandemic-response measures?

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Join geneticist Kevin Folta and GLP contributor Cameron English on episode 208 of Science Facts and Fallacies as they break down these latest news stories:

* Europe’s precautionary principle hypocrisy: Allowing unevaluated bug-based food while banning safe GM food and crop chemicals

The European Union is known for its hyper-skepticism of novel technologies. Yet the recent push to increase insect consumption has found eager supporters among EU leadership. This has persisted despite legitimate concerns that insect farming carries potentially serious health risks that should be addressed before humans begin relying on cockroaches as a protein source. Why is the EU so enthusiastic about bug-based food but fearful of low-risk biotech crops and pesticides?

* Viewpoint: The Guardian cites ‘shocking’ statistics from environmental lobby groups claiming increasing dangers from pesticide poisonings. Here’s why they are wrong, yet again

Friends of the Earth Europe recently claimed that global pesticide use has increased by 80 percent since 1990. It's a troubling statistic. It's also meaningless. Food production has outpaced increases in pesticide use over the same period, even though the global population has boomed. Moreover, the toxicity of many pesticides continues to decline, though we may be using greater quantities of them. These numbers make clear that farming is becoming more sustainable over time, whatever critics may say.

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* Analysis: US public health officials scramble to restore trust in science and vaccines after two years of COVID controversies

Nearly three years of confusing, often contradictory pandemic response measures has left many Americans deeply skeptical of the public health establishment. Fearful that the public will begin rejecting healt...