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StarLink™ corn is genetically engineered
to produce it's own pesticide (Cry9C). It was approved for
animal feed only, not for human consumption, because Cry9C
is suspected of causing allergies.
Yet millions of tainted food products
have been discovered, leading to massive recalls. Now, StarLink™
developer Aventis CropScience is pushing for approval of Cry9C
residues in foods to avoid liability, even though allergy
experts say there is no
safe threshold for food allergens.
Much of the reported contamination is
due to mixing of StarLink with conventional corn. But contamination
of seed corn, popcorn and sweet corn indicates that StarLink
pollen has spread far and wide, exposing more people than
originally thought to its potentially allergenic protein.
Neither Aventis nor the government has
taken account of this genetic pollution factor in their estimates
of exposure to Cry9C. Still worse, the FDA recently discovered
Cry9C DNA in white corn - Kash n' Karry white corn tortilla
chips.
Food companies like Kraft have shifted
from yellow to white corn, assuming white corn is free of
Cry9C. Not only this, but a doctor in Florida just reported
an allergic reaction
to this same brand of tortilla chips. This case has not been
investigated yet, and the FDA has not issued a recall of this
product.
The FDA previously tested 17 people with
suspected allergic reactions to StarLink. Though the tests
came up negative, they are seriously flawed, like the entire
StarLink™ investigation. For instance, the FDA used a
bacterial version of Cry9C for its allergy test rather than
the Cry9C in corn that people were actually exposed to.
Even the FDA admits that that use of the
bacterial version might give false negative results. In addition,
only one child was included in the tests, even though experts
say children are at greatest
risk. Finally, the FDA ignored over 200 individuals
who reported corn-related allergic complaints to the food
industry, and ignored advice from experts to expand the StarLink™
investigation.
Tell EPA to deny Aventis' petition
for a tolerance and keep Starlink out of our food! Demand
a thorough investigation of Starlink contamination to protect
public health!
Write to:
Ms. Christine Todd Whitman
Public Information and
Records Integrity Branch
Information Resources & Services Division (7502C)
Office of Pesticide Programs, EPA
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20460.
Or e-mail:
opp-docket@epa.gov
You must cite "Docket Nos. PF-1029
& OPP-00724 on letters and e-mails. Visit Genetically
Engineered Food Alert for more information.
For more information about the human
health, animal welfare, and environmental issues around food
safety, please visit Center
for Food Safety or call 1-800-600-6664.
The
Center for Food Safety is a non-profit organization at
the forefront of numerous grassroots campaigns and legal challenges
promoting sustainable agriculture, fighting for strong organic
food standards, and protecting consumers and the environment
from the hazards of genetically engineered foods, pesticide
contamination, and mad cow disease.
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