Monsanto Dispels Rumors It's Connected To Zika Virus, Notes 'Misinformation Causes Unwarranted Fear'

dispelled rumors that the company is linked to Zika virus and microcephaly. According to Monsanto's blog post, linking the company to the virus outbreak is simply "misinformation" and "causes unwarranted fear and distracts from the health crisis." Monsanto appears to be responding to

from an Argentina-based group called Physicians in the Crop-Sprayed Towns who argue that a business subsidiary of Monsanto introduced a chemical, Pyriproxyfen, into drinking water supplies which produced malformations in mosquitoes and ultimately led to the Zika virus. Monstanto added in its blog that it does not manufacturer or sell Pyriproxyfen and that it does not own the company, Sumitomo Chemical Company, that is alleged to have introduced the chemical into the drinking water. The company did note that Sumitomo is a business partner, but reaffirmed that GMOs have no role in the Zika virus. "As a science-based company working to help meet some of the world's biggest challenges we support all efforts to combat this health crisis," Monstanto concluded in its blog. "We hope all efforts will be taken based on the facts, not rumors." Shares of Monsanto were trading higher by around 0.4 percent at $87.40 Tuesday afternoon.