Kellogg idles plant due to biotech corn -Post
October 21, 2000 1:24am
Source: Reuters
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Kellogg Co. has shut down one of its
plants over concerns about an unapproved variety of biotech corn, the
Washington Post reported in its Saturday edition. Grain suppliers
have been unable to guarantee that their corn is not a genetically
modified variety called StarLink approved only for animal
consumption. Kellogg, based in Battle Creek, Michigan, has idled one
of its plants until it determines that it is not processing StarLink,
according to anonymous sources cited by the Post. Kellogg officials
would not confirm the shutdown.
Earlier this week, ConAgra Foods Inc said it was temporarily halting
operations at a plant in Kansas while it tested for StarLink. On
Friday, the chairman of agricultural giant Cargill Inc. said the
company had found StarLink in some of its food grain supplies
recently but that it has the problem under control. The industry
estimates that millions of bushels of the corn have already made
their way into the human food chain. In recent weeks, taco shells,
tortillas and corn chips have been recalled from across the United
States because of possible contamination. Government officials do not
think the corn poses serious health risks, but the StarLink variety,
which is designed to be toxic to certain insects, may trigger
allergic reactions in some people. ^ REUTERS@
Copyright 1999 Reuters Limited.