The Daily Dish: UC Davis Is Being Sued For Lack Of Transparency On GMOs And Pesticides

UC Davis Is Being Sued for Lack of Transparency on GMOs and Pesticides

Monsanto, the agri-tech giant known as one of the largest producers of genetically modified seeds in the world, has not been working alone on its agricultural innovations. Such institutions as Harvard University and the University of California, Davis, have semi-covertly published research at Monsanto's behest. Now, UC Davis is being sued by consumer rights group U.S. Right to Know for failing to disclose public records — after numerous Freedom of Information Act requests — concerning its work with GMOs and pesticides. In response to the lawsuit, a law firm that has been previously associated with Monsanto has counter-filed a public records request of all of the correspondence between U.S. Right to Know and UC Davis. 

Al Roker-Inspired Burger at Shake Shacks This Week Only

Shake Shack has added a limited-time burger to its lineup in collaboration with celebrity weatherman Al Roker and NBC's TODAY show. The Roker Burger, available through August 26, is 100 percent all-natural Angus burger topped with Niman Ranch BBQ pulled pork, double American cheese, red-eye mayo, and pickles. One dollar from the purchase of each Roker Burger goes to No Kid Hungry, a campaign by the national anti-hunger organization Share Our Strength that works to end childhood hunger.

Italian Chef Rages Against Vegans on TV

Popular Italian cookbook author, critic, and TV chef Gianfranco Vissani launched into an animated tirade against vegans this week, and a lot of people were pretty upset about it. Vissani was in the middle of an explanation of molecular gastronomy on an episode of an Italian TV program called On Air this week when his remarks suddenly and violently veered into a screed against those who eat a plant-based diet. "Vegans?," said the chef. "I will kill them all!" Unsurprisingly, that did not sit so well with the vegans of Twitter, who condemned Vissani's words and suggested that all his meat-eating had addled the chef's brain. Not everyone was upset, though; several of Vissani's more carnivorous fans have been Tweeting back, "Bravissimo!" at him for taking his stand against non-meat-eaters.

Moët & Chandon Launches City-Themed Rosé Bottles

Moët & Chandon gives fans another reason to celebrate with its new City Bottles, specially designed labels for Moët Nectar Imperial Rosé, the number one selling rosé Champagne in the U.S. The bottles are meant to "pay homage to ten different US places as iconic as the Champagne itself," with a gold crest and emblazoned map representing each location. If collections are more your style, the company has designed a custom wood case that holds and displays all 10 bottles and features a gold latch and a map not of a U.S. city but of Paris — yours for $750.

Kendall Jenner Admits to Being Afraid of Pancakes

Model and reality-TV star Kendall Jenner is rich and famous and only 20 years old, but her life is not as charmed as it might seem; she can't eat pancakes because she's actually afraid of them. Jenner says that the little holes that form on the pancake's surface as it cooks cause her anxiety. Jenner suffers from a condition called trypophobia, the irrational fear of small holes or bumps. Not only pancakes but things like lotus heads or honeycombs actually induce feelings of panic in her.