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The Nordic Times

Polaris of Enlightenment

The Nordic Times

The Nordic Times

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https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/arla-pushes-for-more-gmo-use-despite-criticism/

Sweden

Arla pushes for more GMO use despite criticism

Published May 22, 2025 – By Editorial staff
Arla's popular "household cheese" already contains the GMO-produced cheese enzyme.
3 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Despite persistent criticism from environmental organizations, activists, and concerned consumers, dairy giant Arla wants to further increase its use of GMO-produced rennet in its cheese production. The stated aim is to make production more cost-effective – something the company itself describes as absolutely necessary in order to remain competitive.

– This production is important for us to achieve cost-effective cheese production, Magnus Larsson of Arla Foods told the tax-funded Radio Sweden.

The enzyme in question is chymosin, which is produced using genetically modified microorganisms – a biotechnological method that is now common in industrial cheese production. The enzyme itself is not genetically modified, but it is produced by organisms that have been developed using genetic engineering. Arla already uses the technology in several of its most popular cheeses and now wants to scale up its use.

"The enzyme that we are gradually switching to using in some of our cheeses is not genetically modified; it is identical to that produced in rennet and is produced using microorganisms. It is these microorganisms that have been developed using genetic engineering; the enzyme added to the cheese is therefore not genetically modified, and there are no traces of the microorganisms left in the cheese. Arla never allows GMOs in its products, regardless of where they are produced, and we do not use any genetically modified ingredients in our products, Magnus Larsson continues.

Proud of GMO-free feed

But the criticism remains. According to several surveys, many consumers have very low confidence in GMO technology in food – even when it comes to indirect manufacturing steps such as enzyme production. Critics also argue that the distinction between what is GMO-free and what is not is difficult to explain to consumers, especially when the labeling is unclear.

Arla, for its part, maintains that the end product – the cheese itself – is free from genetically modified substances and sees no problem with using the technology as long as it is approved under current regulations.

At the same time, the company is maintaining its policy of GMO-free feed for Swedish dairy cows, despite the fact that the industry organization LRF last year dropped its previous opposition to GMO feed. In April, Arla's CEO Henri de Sauvage commented on the decision as follows:

“It is natural that each dairy company should decide for itself how it wants to proceed, and Arla's assessment is that we will continue to maintain our position on GMO-free feed for Swedish cows. Sweden is a very important market for the group, and we believe that this is currently good for Arla's brand and our business.”

Mixed messages cause confusion

It should be noted that several of Arla's best-selling cheeses already contain GMO-produced rennet, including the popular household cheese. At the same time, Arla is trying to present the change as something positive, highlighting, among other things, that the industrially produced enzyme provides a more consistent quality than traditional rennet and that their cheeses can now be eaten by those who "prefer a vegetarian diet".

Arla's double stance, opposing the use of genetically modified organisms in animal feed while seeking to increase the use of GMO-produced rennet in its production, has provoked strong reactions on social media, where many question the company's credibility on the GMO issue.

Critics argue that Arla is trying to maintain a GMO-free image to the outside world, while in practice increasing its dependence on genetic engineering in the manufacturing process – something they believe risks undermining trust in the brand and misleading consumers.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

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https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/swedish-public-broadcaster-aired-ai-generated-clip/

Sweden

Swedish public broadcaster aired AI-generated clip

Published today 11:12 am – By Editorial staff
1 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

During Sunday evening's SVT Agenda, an AI-generated video was broadcast without the editorial team being aware of it. The clip appeared to show a confrontation between a New York police officer and an agent from the federal immigration agency ICE.

The video was part of a longer report about tensions in the United States surrounding deportations of undocumented migrants, where ICE operations have led to conflicts with local police in several Democrat-controlled cities.

The AI-generated material was shown on two occasions: first in the program's intro and then as part of the longer US report.

— It is unfortunate that we mistakenly published an AI-generated clip. The audience should always be able to trust that images in Agenda are authentic, says Agenda's editor-in-chief Michael Kucera.

The broadcast has been temporarily removed from SVT Play (the broadcaster's streaming service). A corrected version will be published as soon as possible, along with a correction notice. The editorial team states that they are now reviewing their procedures to avoid similar errors in the future.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/residents-in-vulnerable-areas-most-supportive-of-swedens-new-return-grant/

Sweden

Residents in vulnerable areas most supportive of Sweden’s new return grant

Population replacement in the West

Published November 17, 2025 – By Editorial staff
After the Swedish government, together with the Sweden Democrats party, significantly raised the cap for return migration grants, support for receiving the grant is now increasing among certain immigrant groups.
3 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

The Swedish government's significant increase of the return migration grant at the turn of the year is meeting mixed reactions among the population. A new opinion poll shows that support is strongest among foreign-born residents in so-called vulnerable areas – and weakest among left-wing voters.

At the same time, debate is growing about how the grant should be used and what effects it may have for municipalities and the state.

When the Tidö government (Sweden's center-right coalition government) raises the return migration grant from approximately €900 to €31,000 at the turn of the year, the goal is to encourage more migrants who are deemed difficult to integrate to voluntarily return to their countries of origin.

The reform has created extensive political debate, not least after several red-green (left-wing) municipalities indicated their opposition to the measure.

This has led representatives from the Tidö parties and the Sweden Democrats to question whether state support should continue to municipalities that do not participate in the program.

Now a new survey from Indikator Opinion, commissioned by the Järvaveckan Foundation, shows that support for the significantly increased grant varies greatly between different groups.

Support varies greatly

According to the survey, attitudes are significantly more positive among foreign-born residents living in vulnerable areas than in the rest of the country.

In these areas, 39 percent say they are positive about an increased return migration grant, while 30 percent are negative. In the rest of the country – including both native Swedes and immigrants – the proportion of positive responses is 27 percent and the proportion of negative responses is 38 percent.

The most positive group is migrants who have lived in Sweden for less than five years and who also live in vulnerable areas. There, 46 percent say they view the grant increase positively.

Ahmed Abdirahman, CEO of the Järvaveckan Foundation, believes the reaction says something important about how people experience their situation in Sweden.

— That support for an increased return migration grant is greater among foreign-born residents in vulnerable areas may seem surprising at first glance. But the results show how complex the question of integration is. I see it as a sign that we need to talk more about opportunities, not just about benefits. When people don't feel included in nation-building, the willingness to consider other alternatives also increases, he says.

Right-wing voters more positive

The survey also shows large differences between different party sympathies. Among Sweden Democrats' voters, 47 percent are positive about the grant increase, while the corresponding proportion among Christian Democrats' voters is 45 percent.

The least support is found among Left Party and Green Party sympathizers, where a majority view the government's direction negatively.

Per Oleskog Tryggvason, opinion director at Indikator Opinion, emphasizes that the proposal is still unpopular among broader segments of voters.

— A significantly increased return migration grant is a relatively unpopular proposal among Swedish voters – clearly more people think it's bad than think it's good. Even though the proposal is significantly more popular among the Tidö parties' voters, there is a considerable proportion of right-wing voters who are skeptical. Based on these figures, it doesn't appear to be an election-winning proposal, he says.

The grant increase takes effect at the turn of the year. How many people will actually choose to apply remains to be seen – interest has been lukewarm so far, but the government hopes the new amount will change the situation.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/swedish-public-health-agency-wants-to-classify-red-fly-agaric-as-narcotics/

Sweden

Swedish Public Health Agency wants to classify red fly agaric as narcotics

Published November 14, 2025 – By Editorial staff
2 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Products containing muscimol from fly agaric mushrooms have become increasingly popular and are often sold as natural medicine. Now the Swedish Public Health Agency (Folkhälsomyndigheten) wants the government to stop the trade by classifying the substance as narcotics.

The fly agaric has long been regarded as a symbol of poisonous mushrooms, but it is not quite as toxic as the destroying angel (Amanita virosa) – which is deadly. Historically, the fly agaric is said to have been used by Siberian shamans, among others, to alter their state of consciousness in order to establish contact with the spirit world in rituals.

In Sweden during the 1800s, people hardly ate any mushrooms at all, but the fly agaric was still considered useful as it was used as an insecticide against flies, from which it also got its name. When food became scarce for Swedes, authorities tried to encourage more mushroom consumption, which briefly led to a group of mushroom enthusiasts claiming that the fly agaric was edible, something that Populär Historia has written about. During the 1970s, the mushroom began to acquire its bad reputation after new knowledge about mushroom species began to take shape.

Poses a risk

Muscimol is a psychoactive substance that can produce sedative and hallucinogenic effects, and today the substance is often promoted by so-called alternative health groups as a remedy for sleep disorders, among other things. So-called retreats are even organized where participants ingest the mushroom in ceremonial settings.

Now the Swedish Public Health Agency wants to classify the substance as narcotics. According to the agency, the substance is currently available for purchase as candy and in e-cigarettes through various online stores, and they emphasize that the mushroom is poisonous and that people are exposing themselves to risk. In addition to relatively common symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, nausea, and hallucinations, there are reports of people falling into comas after taking the preparation.

— It has properties that pose a danger to people's lives and health and which can be assumed to be used for the purpose of achieving intoxication, said Adli Assali, head of unit at the Swedish Public Health Agency, to P3 Nyheter.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned trade in muscimol at the end of last year. This summer, the Swedish Public Health Agency initiated its own investigation following a request from the Swedish Customs Service (Tullverket), which had seized the substance at border controls. The Swedish government will now decide whether the substance should be classified as narcotics in Sweden.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/swedish-prison-service-opposes-plan-to-lower-criminal-age-to-13/

Sweden

Swedish Prison Service opposes plan to lower criminal age to 13

Published November 12, 2025 – By Editorial staff
2 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

The Swedish government's proposal to lower the age of criminal responsibility to 13 is facing strong criticism. In its consultation response, the Swedish Prison and Probation Service (Kriminalvården) states that it is not equipped to receive such young children in prison and that they should be cared for in other ways.

By July 1 next year, the Swedish Prison and Probation Service is expected to have built prison units for children where both 15–17-year-olds and 13–14-year-olds convicted of serious crimes will serve sentences. At the same time, places at the special youth homes (SiS homes, state-run institutions for youth care) will be phased out.

In the consultation response, the Prison and Probation Service writes that imprisonment at a young age can lead to negative consequences, and that children "as young as 13 should be cared for in other ways".

— These concerns become more significant the younger the children in question are, says Elisabeth Lager, acting legal director, to TT.

The Prison and Probation Service is clear that the organization does not have the required resources. It lacks both the expertise and suitable facilities to handle children as young as 13 within prisons, detention centers, or community-based sanctions such as probation. Practical issues such as education must also be addressed. At the same time, it is noted that the level of the age of criminal responsibility is ultimately a political matter.

Swedish Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer writes that the government will "carefully analyze all consultation responses". He emphasizes that society must "care for children in a completely different way than today" in cases of the most serious crimes, both to protect victims and society, but also the children themselves.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com