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OCTOBER 19, 2000

The Federal Drug Administration is testing more food products because they may contain a genetically-modified corn not meant for human consumption.

StarLink corn, a product of Aventis CropScience, is approved for animal, not human use. But it was recently found in two separate brands of taco shells, both of which have been recalled.

The company itself has decided to pull the brand off the market. But the company has discovered that half of grain elevators who bought the corn have been putting it into the human food chain.

A grain company in Nebraska purchased at least 11,000 bushels and combined it with other corn. The company says it didn't know it wasn't approved for human use and an official blames Aventis for not informing farmers about keeping the corn separate.

The FDA says there is no imminent health risk but the corn may cause allergic reactions.

Get the Story:
Biotech Corn in Various Foods (The Washington Post 10/19)
Biotech's bad dream: Industry faces corn problem (The Lincoln Journal Star 10/19)

Related Stories:
Bio-corn to be removed from market (The Medicine Wheel 10/13)
Safeway taco shells recalled (The Medicine Wheel 10/12)

Relevant Links:
Aventis CropScience - www2.aventis.com/cropsc/cro_main.htm
Bioengineered foods, The FDA - www.fda.gov/oc/biotech/default.htm