Dow Jones | December 9, 1999
ST. LOUIS - Monsanto Co. said it developed a crop which produces a beta-carotene enriched oil it hopes to market as a Vitamin A supplement.
In a press release Thursday, the agricultural, pharmaceutical and food ingredients company said the oil, produced by a new variety of rape seed plant, contains the highest concentration of beta-carotene in any oil or vegetable.
A teaspoon of the oil taken daily could alleviate Vitamin A deficiency, which causes night blindness, loss of immune system functions and the inability to absorb proteins, Monsanto said.
Monsanto has been growing the new rape seed plant in field trials in the U.S. and hopes to complete testing for environmental, food and animal safety, including appropriate human consumption levels, over the next few years.
Michael Squires; Dow Jones Newswires; 201-938-5400
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