Russia has announced a war on GM foods in a move that appears to target US producers amid an expanding sanctions war between the two countries.

      The Russian Prime Minister told a session of rural legislators that Russia would ban GM foods across the country. “We are capable of raising conventional crops. If Americans love to eat GM foods, they are welcome. We don’t need that. We have enough land and capability to consume normal food,” he was quoted by RIA Novosti as saying.

      Earlier, Agriculture Minister Nikolay Fyodorov said that Russia must remain a GM-free country.

      This has been seen as a countermove against the US which imposed a raft of sanctions on Russian officials and individuals with close ties to the Kremlin.

      It also put space and military cooperation on hold, followed by some of its NATO allies, including the UK.

      The US sanctions have encountered a vigorous response from the Russian Foreign Ministry which came up with a black list of its own. Here’re the names of US officials that are banned from visiting Russia.

      1. Caroline Atkinson, US Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economic Affairs.

      2. Daniel Pfeiffer, Assistant to the President of the United States.

      3. Benjamin Rhodes, Assistant to the President of the United States.

      4. Harry Reed, U.S. Senate Majority Leader.

      5. John Boehner, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.

      6. Robert Menendez, Chairman of the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

      7. Mary Landrieu, senator.

      8. John McCain, senator.

      9. Daniel Coats, senator.