StarLink Corn Highlights
Biotech Threats

Perhaps it is the work of the Sacred Corn Maiden. Perhaps it is dumb luck.

But it somehow seems appropriate that the sacred grain of this hemisphere's indigenous peoples has finally caused the government to take at least one appropriate action on the threats we all face from biotechnology.

StarLink corn, with its genetically engineered, extra protein Cry9C, has been in the news lately, due to its potential allergenicity.

The Cry9C protein used to modify StarLink corn was taken from a bacteria that kills corn worms.

Over 300 products have been recalled so far, and it looks like many more will be, costing millions of dollars and affecting businesses across the nation.

Forty-four Americans have gone on the record reporting that they became ill after eating the altered corn, and finally a government agency has taken action to protect people rather than biotech corporate profits.

EPA Panel Confirms Earlier Findings

As recalls of the "not fit for human consumption" corn continued, Aventis Crop Science, makers of the StarLink corn, asked the Environmental Protection Agency to reconsider its ruling that the corn be used only in animal feed.

Aventis requested a four-year exemption (about the amount of time it would take for all the corn to make its way through the grain handling system and get used up) on StarLink, allowing it to enter the human food supply.

The scientific advisory panel, the second the EPA has called on in this matter, reconfirmed last February's findings, concluding yet again that concerns about StarLink in the food supply are valid.

The panel which consisted of experts from around the world heard data and hours of testimony.

In the end, Aventis could not convince the scientists to reverse the EPA position confirming that StarLink corn, with its engineered Cry9C protein, is indeed a potential food allergen.

Additional information supplied by Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) showed that the level of the suspected protein allergen engineered into the corn may be 20-50 times higher than previously reported by Aventis.

As reported by the New York Times on December 4th, Aventis is also facing a class action lawsuit brought by farmers who were unaware of the planting or selling restriction on StarLink.

The "negligence" lawsuit alleges that after receiving EPA approval and licensing the StarLink trait to the Carst Seed Company and others, Aventis failed to follow the accepted procedures or show the kind of prudence, disseminating information on segregation, planting and cross pollination expected of the industry.

Due to the mixing of this genetically engineered corn with conventional crops, the American corn market is taking a beating in international markets and millions of tons of corn are being recalled.

Although the New York Times also reported no serious illnesses have occurred from the StarLink corn, 44 people have reported illness, 13 of them seeking medical assistance.

One man, rushed to the hospital emergency room for anaphylactic shock after eating corn chips, later told investigators he had no history of allergies.

In another case, a 13-year-old boy was treated by physicians when his tongue and face swelled after he ate corn flour tortillas.

Of the other illnesses, 59% were deemed to be "compatible" with food allergy symptoms, including itching, hives and other allergic symptoms.

Labeling Inevitable?

Due to the seriousness of the StarLink debacle, even USDA head Dan Glickman, a longtime proponent of unlabeled, genetically engineered food entering the food supply, was quoted in a Reuters interview as saying, "I think the trend is unstoppable toward more and more labeling.

We've got to recognize that the consumer is king or queen in this mess, and folks are going to want to know what's in their food."

However, Glickman fell short of calling for the mandatory segregation and labeling of genetically engineered organisms, leaving corporations to do it voluntarily.

The FDA, with its authority over food labeling, is expected to issue guidelines to be used by companies that want to voluntarily label foods soon.

Aside from label wording, which officials are working on to avoid "frightening" consumers, the FDA is also expected to begin requiring companies to consult with agency scientists on any new genetically engineered food before it goes on the market.

Labeling bills introduced last year by Senators Barbara Boxer and Dennis Kucinich, are likely to resurface when the new congress meets this month, although the support necessary for passage may be hard to muster.

Meanwhile, in a move that smacks of corporate welfare, Glickman's USDA continues to help Aventis buy back the StarLink corn.