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At least Forty-four Americans are claiming that
they became ill after eating foods containing StarLink corn, a genetically
modified type of corn approved only for animal consumption.
Scientists with the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said they
are investigating the claims that the corn, known as StarLink, might have
caused:
- Rashes
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Itching
- Life-threatening anaphylactic
shock
"We're continuing to follow these people and
are trying to get as much medical information as we can," said Karl
Klontz, an FDA epidemiologist.
StarLink was approved for use only as animal feed
in 1998 because of concerns that its protein might cause allergic reactions
in humans. Traces of the corn turned up in taco shells in September being
exposed by Friends of the Earth (www.foe.org),
an environmental advocacy group, after triggering a recall of more than
300 kinds of foods and widespread genetic testing by food manufacturers.
The EPA is currently considering whether to grant
Aventis SA, which developed the corn, temporary approval to use StarLink
in human food. The company faces potentially huge costs if the agency
maintains its restrictions on StarLink.
- Of the 44 people who blamed StarLink for their
illness, 13 went to a doctor for treatment.
- They included a man who was rushed to a hospital
emergency room for anaphylactic shock after eating corn chips.
- A 13-year-old boy was also treated by emergency
room physicians when his face and tongue swelled after he ate tortillas.
While Aventis contends that its scientific data
shows that only a minuscule amount has entered the human food supply and
a typical American would consume nowhere near enough to cause allergic
reactions, environmental and consumer activists argue that not enough
data is yet available to clear StarLink of health risks.
Of the illnesses reported to the FDA:
- 59 percent were deemed to be "compatible"
with food allergy symptoms.
- 16 percent of the illnesses were categorized
as "unlikely" to be linked to the biotech corn, including
vomiting and diarrhea.
- Remainder of the cases were classified as "unknown"
by the FDA investigators because of conflicting symptoms or a lack of
information.
An EPA-appointed panel of 15 physicians, toxicologists
and other scientists was scheduled to submit its recommendations on StarLink
and allergenicity to the EPA last week and the agency is expected to act
soon after that.
Reuters November 29,
2000
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