USDA says better job needed in segregating biotech crops

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman said Monday that Kraft Foods Inc's recall of taco shells containing an unapproved biotech corn variety showed the government has to do a better job of segregating gene-spliced grains and commodities.

"We've got to do a better job of segregating those commodities to make sure that...we basically protect people from things that haven't been approved," Glickman told reporters after speaking at a hunger forum.

He also praised the Food and Drug Administration for keeping a close eye on the situation.

"The FDA is monitoring the situation very closely, very carefully," Glickman said. "I don't think there is any public health and safety issue here but the fact is the product has not been approved for human consumption. It should not be served."

Kraft announced the recall on Friday after finding evidence that a variety of Bt corn approved only for animal feed was in some taco shells it manufactured. The corn has not been allowed in human food because of scientists' worry that it might be an allergen.

The USDA, FDA and Environmental Protection Agency share responsibility for regulating biotech foods. The USDA has authority over farm field testing of new biotech crops, while the EPA is responsible for evaluating crops that have been genetically altered to repel pests.

The FDA is now finalizing rules that will mandate consultations between agency scientists and food companies developing new varieties of gene-spliced products. Currently, those consultations are voluntary.

The agency is also working on guidelines for food manufacturers who want to add a label indicating whether a food does or does not contain a gene-modified ingredient.

Another speaker at the hunger meeting, the Rockefeller Foundation's Gordan Conway, said the U.S. government should require labels on genetically modified food.

"I believe there is a large consumer demand for it. It's as simple as that," said the head of the philanthropic group which supports the development of biotech crops to help improve yields in the Third World.

Conway also said he did not believe biotech food presented any "serious health hazard."

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