Activists ask US foodmakers if they test for biocorn
WASHINGTON, Oct 19 (Reuters) - A coalition of green groups asked
major U.S. foodmakers on Thursday to explain what safeguards they are
using to protect American consumers from an unapproved variety of
biotech corn that has turned up in taco shells and flour. The
activists' demand comes at a time when several grocers have pulled
corn products from their shelves because they have been found to be
contaminated with a genetically engineered variety known as StarLink.
U.S. regulators approved Aventis SA's StarLink corn for use only in
animal feed because of unanswered questions whether the biocorn might
cause an allergic reaction for some consumers.
The Food and Drug Administration launched an investigation earlier
this month to determine how StarLink slipped into taco shells, and
whether it had also contaminated other snack foods, cereals or foods.
Kellogg Co., H.J. Heinz Co., Coca Cola Co and more than 30 other
companies were asked by the coalition Genetically Engineered Food
Alert on Thursday to detail if they are testing for StarLink, or
requiring their suppliers to test. Yellow corn is a key ingredient in
a host of processed foods ranging from corn flour in biscuit mixes to
corn syrup as a sweetener for soft drinks. "We've got a problem that
goes beyond taco shells -- this could be in any processed corn
product," said Matt Rand, a spokesman for the coalition. "It shows
the breakdown of a regulatory system."
Members of the coalition include Greenpeace, National Environmental
Trust, Friends of the Earth and four other groups. The groups favor
stricter regulation of biofoods, including government safety testing
and consumer-friendly labels indicating if a food has gene-spliced
ingredients. The activist coalition's letter to the companies also
asked if they supported "the consumer's right to know" if foods
contain gene-altered ingredients. Seed companies and agribusinesses
have opposed any tightening of regulations, saying a longstanding
U.S. government policy recognizes biofoods as safe and no different
from conventional foods. The StarLink biocorn episode has drawn
consumer companies -- which are zealous about protecting their brand
names -- into the fray. Although some firms are reluctant to comment
on what they are doing, food industry analysts said laboratories
equipped to detect gene-spliced corn were flooded with work since the
first recall last month of taco shells containing StarLink.
HEINZ TESTING FOR STARLINK
Heinz, a major U.S. foodmaker, said it was testing for StarLink in
all its foods and so far had found none. "Our policy is that we seek
to avoid genetically engineered ingredients where it's possible to
make that kind of segregation," said Heinz spokesman Jack Kennedy.
Earlier this year, Heinz banned all gene-spliced ingredients from its
line of baby food. The Pittsburgh-based company also grows all its
own tomatoes to ensure they are free of bioengineered varieties for
its trademark ketchup. But for other processed foods, it is difficult
to avoid using government-approved bioengineered corn or soybeans,
Kennedy said. "There is a significant amount in the market that is
co-mingled... Sometimes it's virtually impossible to make a
distinction."
Coca Cola said it has a long-held position of using "only ingredients
that have been evaluated for safety, based on sound food science and
accepted for use in food by the relevant health and safety regulatory
authorities." "Our soft drinks do not contain protein or DNA modified
through biotechnology," the Coke statement said. A spokeswoman for
Kellogg had no immediate comment on whether the cereal maker was
testing for StarLink corn in its products. StarLink corn contains a
protein engineered to repel the European corn borer, a pest that can
devastate growing corn plants. The variety was grown on less than 1
percent of U.S. corn fields this year, and Aventis is trying to buy
back as much of the corn as possible for a 25 cent per bushel
premium.
The FDA has been tight-lipped about its investigation, saying only
that it is testing samples of various processed corn products.
Earlier this week, giant ConAgra Foods Inc. said it suspended milling
at its corn plant in Kansas while it tested for StarLink. Archer
Daniels Midland Co. also said it was testing for the corn variety but
had not stopped milling corn. Many U.S. based food companies that
sell products in France, Britain, Australia and Japan have already
been forced to make sure food products destined for those markets do
not include genetically altered ingredients. Those nations, plus more
than a dozen others, require labels on foods containing
bio-engineered soybeans, corn, squash, tomatoes and other
ingredients.
Copyright 1999 Reuters Limited.