EPA: Consumers complaining of reactions to biotech corn found in food supply

In this story: Aventis sought approval in 1997 No more StarLink? RELATED STORIES, SITES

By CNN Medical Correspondent Eileen O'Connor

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Fourteen people have complained to federal officials of adverse reactions after eating food products made from StarLink, a form of bioengineered corn not approved for human consumption, an official at the Environmental Protection Agency said Monday.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are investigating the "adverse event reports," said Susan Hazen, Deputy Director of EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs.

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A lawyer for the Grocery Manufacturers of America said no link between the corn and adverse health impact has been proven, and contended the reports were inspired by publicity over the recall from supermarkets of Kraft Foods Taco Bell brand taco shells and Safeway brand taco shells.

"The EPA has confirmed that is has no evidence that food containing StarLink corn will cause any allergic reaction in people and that the risks, if any, are extremely low," said Rhonda Barnat, a spokeswoman for Aventis, the manufacturer of the bioengineered corn.

Hazen said Aventis applied for approval for both animal and human consumption in 1997, but was granted approval for the pesticide-resistant corn to be used for animal feed only. The approval for human consumption was withheld due to the corn's shared characteristics with other foods that cause allergic reactions.

A protein called CRY9C, contained in StarLink corn, is heat-resistant. Proteins in peanuts, known food allergens, are also heat-resistant. StarLink is also not as readily digestible as other corn, according to the EPA.

"It gave us enough doubt that we were not comfortable to put it into the food supply," said Hazen.

Friends of the Earth, an environmental advocacy group, reported last month that Taco Bell brand taco shells sold in supermarkets contained less than one per cent of StarLink corn.

Kraft Foods, the manufacturer of the shells, recalled the product. Safeway issued another recall later when it found its store brand of taco shells contained StarLink.

Spokesmen for Aventis said the company has determined how more than 80 million bushels of StarLink corn were used, but has not been able to account for 1.2 million bushels of the corn.

The company has voluntarily pulled the registration of StarLink corn, meaning it will no longer be grown. Hazen said the company did so after "the EPA strongly urged Aventis to take advantage of an opportunity to withdraw its registration voluntarily."

Hazen added that "the agency would have moved forward with whatever action was necessary to make sure that this wasn't planted in the 2001 season."

Still, Aventis said has asked the EPA for reconsideration of the exemption for human tolerance, saying it has additional data showing StarLink is not an allergen, and that, even if it were, it was in the food chain for such a short time and in such small amounts that it would not have caused allergic reactions.

The EPA said it is reviewing the application.

Hazen said the agency will hold a meeting of food-allergy experts next month.

EPA is investigating how StarLink was mingled with non-genetically modified corn intended for human consumption.

"Aventis agreed to follow basic requirements: first, that StarLink was to be used only for animal feed or industrial purposes," said Hazen. "Second, it couldn't be exported out of the United States. Aventis was to put into place a system to ensure that happened."

A lawsuit has been filed in Chicago on behalf of a man who said he suffered an allergic reaction after eating the Kraft Taco Bell taco shells. Lawyers involved in that suit said others are likely to follow.

Safeway recalls its taco shells
October 12, 2000
Genetically engineered foods causing some concerns
September 26, 2000
U.S. probes Taco Bell's alleged use of biotech corn
September 18, 2000
Study calls for more regulation, not labeling, of biotech crops
April 5, 2000
The good, the bad and the genetically engineered
January 13, 2000

Aventis
National Corn Growers - Producing Profits
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Food and Drug Administration Home Page
Bioengineered Foods
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