Monsanto hoax site should be investigated, company says

There’s been a lot written lately about Monsanto’s love ‘em or hate ‘em reputation.

And Wednesday was no exception.

Earlier in the day, an unidentified group put up a fake Monsanto website, www.monsantoglobal.com, which included fake press releases.

“Monsanto has at long last obtained permission to plant GM corn on a commercial scale in Mexico,” a post on the hoax site said.

By late afternoon, Monsanto officials said information on the website and its related communication properties “has been turned over to the appropriate authorities...”

In a post on its blog, Beyond the Rows, officials said the website contained “intentional misrepresentations” of the $13.5 billion company.

“Monsanto recognizes that the online forum is a place for spirited discussion about many topics and many companies, including our own,” the post read. “Unfortunately, Monsanto sees web site hoaxes such as an attempt to disrupt that discussion, and to broadcast false and misleading information about our company.”

Monsanto, headquartered in Creve Coeur, is led by Chairman and CEO Hugh Grant, who talked about sitting in the hot seat in a recent profile in Barron’s. “Some days are rougher than others,” he said.