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The StarLink corn fiasco of 2000 represents
one of the most embarrassing oversights in the history of
U.S. regulatory oversight of food.
In September 2000, scientists discovered
StarLink biotech corn, a variety unapproved for human consumption,
in Kraft Foods Taco Bell taco shells. Kraft recalled millions
of dollars of shells. Since then, StarLink corn has been found
in as many as 300 different foods throughout the country,
as more than 9 million bushels of the corn were dumped into
American grain elevators.
Aventis, the manufacturer of StarLink corn,
sought approval for both animal and human consumption of the
corn in 1997. The EPA, though, said the corn could be used
only for animal feed. Approval for human consumption was not
granted because the corn shares characteristics with other
foods that cause allergic reactions. "It gave us enough
doubt that we were not comfortable to put it into the food
supply," said Susan Hazen, deputy director of the EPA's
Office of Pesticide Programs.
How did unapproved corn find its way into
the food supply? Aventis says that it may not have notified
a number of its customers about restrictions on the use of
StarLink corn. Analysts estimate the StarLink corn recall
ultimately will cost Aventis between $68 million and $100
million.
"It's very clear that the emergence
of biotechnology has brought about a whole new set of regulatory
challenges which the current regulatory structure is not able
to handle," said Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio),
in late 2000. "In the next session of Congress, there
is going to be a push for labeling, for safety testing, and
potentially for some revision of the agencies' responsibilities."
Calls for reform are coming from some unexpected
places. Shortly after the StarLink disaster broke, Business
Week, in a commentary, wrote: "Once again, it seems the
industry has hurt itself with its unyielding opposition to
labeling or special regulations for biotech foods….Biotech
foods are new, they are different, and they deserve special
regulations. The industry should drop its opposition to tougher
regulations."
Even the president of Monsanto's Argentina
division, Carlos Popik, has announced his support for labeling.
He told reporters recently that "I think people have
a right to know what they're consuming. I believe the lion's
share of their fears will subside once that kind of information
is made available."
It's clear that the StarLink corn recalls
and other worries about genetically engineered foods are having
an impact on the American public. In a November survey of
1,210 adults, a Reuters/Zogby poll found that a majority of
Americans (54 percent) believe the recalls raise concerns
about food safety, and one-third said that farmers should
not be allowed to grow biotech crops.
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