StarLink corn recall

The StarLink corn recalls occurred in the autumn of 2000, when over 300 food products were found to contain a genetically modified corn that had not been approved for human consumption.[1] It was the first-ever recall of a genetically modified food. The anti-GMO activist coalition Genetically Engineered Food Alert, which detected and first reported the contamination, was critical of the FDA for not doing its job. The recall of Taco Bell-branded taco shells, manufactured by Kraft Foods and sold in supermarkets, was the most publicized of the recalls. One settlement resulted in $60 million going to Taco Bell franchisees for lost sales due to the damage to the Taco Bell brand.

StarLink corn

StarLink is a brand of transgenic maize containing two modifications: a gene for resistance to glufosinate, and a variant of the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) protein called Cry9C. Cry9C had not been used in a GM crop prior to StarLink, causing heightened regulatory scrutiny.[2] StarLink's creator, Plant Genetic Systems, which became Aventis CropScience during the time of the incident, had applied to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to market StarLink for use in both animal feed and human foods.[3] The Garst Seed Company (part of the Advanta group) was licensed by Aventis to produce and sell StarLink seed in the US.[4]

However, because the Cry9C protein lingers in animal digestive systems before breaking down, the EPA had concerns about its allergenicity, and PGS did not provide sufficient data to prove that Cry9C was not allergenic.[5]

Product recalls

In 2000, Genetically Engineered Food Alert was launched by seven organizations (Center for Food Safety, Friends of the Earth, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, National Environmental Trust, Organic Consumers Association, Pesticide Action Network North America, and The State PIRGs) to lobby the FDA, Congress and companies to ban or stop using GMOs.[7][8][9] One of their activities was testing food for the presence of GMOs via a lab called Genetic ID, the vice president of which was Jeffrey M. Smith.[10][11]

On September 18, 2000, Genetically Engineered Food Alert released a statement that Genetic ID had conducted tests on "Taco Bell Home Originals" brand taco shells, made by

Aventis recall/buyback

In January 2001, under a written agreement with 17 US states,[25] Aventis initiated a program called the StarLink Enhanced Stewardship (SES) program, under which StarLink corn, buffer corn, and any corn stored in grain elevators that had become mixed with StarLink, would be bought by Aventis and directed to animal feed and non-food industrial use (e.g. ethanol production); the program included free kits to test for StarLink, and covered costs of cleaning equipment, transport, and storage facilities, as well as increased transportation costs.[26] Aventis estimated the cost would be between $100 million to $1 billion.[27][28][29]

It was estimated that due to grain mixing StarLink corn could have existed in more than 50% of the US corn supply[30]

Aftermath

Following the recalls, 51 people reported adverse effects to the FDA; these reports were reviewed by the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), which determined that 28 of them were possibly related to StarLink.[32] The CDC studied the blood of these 28 individuals and concluded there was no evidence the reactions these people experienced were associated with hypersensitivity to the StarLink Bt protein.[33]

The EPA was criticized by Joseph Mendelson III of the Center for Food Safety, who said, "Clearly they didn't do anything here until they became embarrassed."[34] The EPA and Aventis were also criticized for statements at the time of the recall that indicated they had no idea such a thing would happen.[35] "If there has been a violation of our licensing process, then we would have a very great concern," was attributed to Stephen Johnson of the EPA. Margaret Gadsby of Aventis was quoted with her earlier statement, "We have difficulty imagining how our corn could end up in the human food supply."

The registration for the StarLink varieties was voluntarily withdrawn by Aventis in October 2000.[36]

Later incidents

In August 2013, StarLink corn was reported to be found again contaminating some foods in Saudi Arabia.[47]

See also

• Genetically modified organism containment and escape
• Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (US)
• Genetically modified food controversies
• Regulation of the release of genetically modified organisms