U.S. corn growers back Kraft taco shell recall

ST. LOUIS, Missouri (Reuters) -- The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) said it supports Kraft Food Co.'s voluntary recall from grocery store shelves of taco shells suspected of containing a type of corn not yet approved for food use.

On Friday, Philip Morris Cos.' Kraft Foods unit, the biggest U.S. food manufacturer, recalled all Taco Bell Home Originals taco shells after it said lab tests showed the presence of corn carrying StarLink, a type of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn not yet approved for food markets.

"We share the concern of Kraft, consumers, and the U.S. regulatory agencies in addressing the possible appearance of a not-yet-approved product in food channels. At stake is the reputation and integrity of U.S. corn farmers and the food they produce," NCGA chairman Roger Pine said in a statement.

Corn with StarLink Bt, produced by Aventis SA, has Environmental Protection Agency approval for use in feed and industrial uses. But approval for food use is still pending tests on whether it may contain allergens for some people.

All other Bt corn hybrids grown and sold in the United States have governmental approval for both food and feed use, NCGA said.

Bt corn is a type of genetically modified (GMO) crop that, through addition of the natural Bt soil bacterium, has a built-in defense against the European corn borer, an insect that has caused millions of dollars in crop losses over the years.

In 2000, 18 percent of the 77 million acres of corn in the United States was planted to Bt varieties, or about one-fifth of this year's expected 10-billion bushel corn harvest.

The recall, the first of a U.S. food product containing a gene-modified ingredient not approved for human consumption, has underscored the need to make sure that separation and identification of GMO crops is guaranteed.

Kraft on Friday called for a tightening of regulations covering approval, distribution and testing of GMO crops.

"We understand that lab tests are continuing in order to confirm or deny the presence of StarLink DNA. The presence of Cry9C, the StarLink type of Bt, in the tacos, if proven, would indicate a significant breach in the license to use StarLink," Pine said.

"If tests confirm StarLink's presence, we will work diligently with food companies and regulatory agencies to help identify and correct any flaws in the supply chain," Pine continued. "And, if tests show the tacos don't contain StarLink, we'll help Kraft restock the shelves."

On Friday, Kraft's supplier of corn flour for the tacos, Azteca Milling, said it was investigating its production and supply chains. Azteca's Plainfield, Texas, mill contracts with local farmers to supply specific non-GMO varieties of corn, it said. Azteca was also performing its own lab tests to confirm the presence of the StarLink corn.

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Taco Bell sees no need for recall
September 23, 2000
Kraft Foods recalls taco shells because of biotech corn
September 22, 2000

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