No need to editorialize ...just read this release.
===========================================
P A N U P S
Pesticide Action Network Updates Service
===========================================
Illegal GE Corn Found in Taco Shells
September 19, 2000
Genetically Engineered Food Alert, a coalition of health, consumer
and environmental groups, demanded that taco shells marketed using
the Taco Bell name be immediately removed from grocery store shelves
across the country. In independent testing, a sample of the taco
shells was found to contain a form of genetically engineered corn
not approved for direct human consumption.
Test results obtained by Genetically Engineered Food Alert member
group Friends of the Earth from an independent laboratory indicate
the presence of Cry9C corn, a variety of genetically engineered corn
not approved for direct human consumption, in Taco Bell taco shells
sold at grocery stores. Cry9C, a plant pesticide marketed by Aventis
under the name of StarLink, is currently deemed fit only for animal
consumption by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Aventis has applied for an exemption to this restriction even though
the EPA has warned that Aventis' data indicate "that Cry9C exhibits
some characteristics of known allergens." Cry9C was found to be heat
stabile and resistant to stomach acids and enzymes, indicating that
it could be a potential allergen. Possible health effects of this
category of allergen, which may include nausea and anaphylactic
shock, are not currently known due to a lack of adequate testing by
government and industry.
"According to the tests, Taco Bell and Philip Morris have used a
genetically engineered ingredient that could put the health of their
customers at risk," said Larry Bohlen, Health and Environment
Programs Director at Friends of the Earth. The taco shells tested
were distributed by Kraft, a subsidiary of Philip Morris, under the
name Taco Bell. "Consumers need to know whether this is just the tip
of the iceberg."
Friends of the Earth also plans to submit taco shells from Taco Bell
restaurants for testing.
A lawyer for Genetically Engineered Food Alert filed a letter with
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on behalf of the
coalition calling upon the Agency to recall the adulterated taco
shells, as permitted under law, if the manufacturer does not
implement a voluntary recall.
"This is a legal violation and FDA clearly has the authority to
seize the product if Taco Bell and Philip Morris do not recall it,"
said Joseph Mendelson, Center for Food Safety legal director.
The coalition also requested that the FDA move swiftly to test for
the presence of Cry9C corn in all products containing non-organic
yellow corn #2, the grade of corn to which Cry9C belongs. According
to the American Corn Growers Association, only 9% of the
conventional corn crop was segregated from genetically engineered
corn in 1999. Products made with yellow corn #2 may include many
varieties of tortillas, breakfast cereals, corn chips, frozen TV
dinners such as enchiladas and corn meal.
Members of the Genetically Engineered Food Alert condemned the
presence of the genetically engineered ingredient on grocery store
shelves, as indicated by the test results, as a failure of the FDA
to provide adequate oversight of food biotechnology corporations and
food producers. The FDA is empowered by the Federal Food, Drug and
Cosmetic Act to protect the public against genetically engineered
plant pesticides, such as the particular kind of corn containing
Cry9C, that are not approved by the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA).
Genetically Engineered Food Alert founding members include: 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
Public Interest Research Groups.
Genetically Engineered Food Alert supports the removal of
genetically engineered ingredients from grocery store shelves unless
they are adequately safety tested and labeled. The campaign provides
web-based opportunities for individuals to express concern about
genetically engineered food and fact sheets on health, environmental
and economic information about genetically engineered food. The
campaign is endorsed by more than 250 scientists, religious leaders,
doctors, chefs, environmental and health leaders, as well as farm
groups.
The recall letters to Taco Bell and Philip Morris, the formal
petition to the FDA, test results, as well as fact sheets on
genetically engineered Cry9C corn, the regulatory history of Cry9C,
and on the laboratory testing protocol are located on the
Genetically Engineered Food Alert Web site at
http://www.gefoodalert.org/recall
Source: Genetic Engineering Food Alert press release, September 18,
2000.
Contact: Friends of the Earth, 1025 Vermont Avenue NW, Third Floor,
Washington DC 20005-6303; phone (202) 783-7400; fax (202) 783-0444;.
http://www.foe.org
PANUPS is a weekly email news service providing resource guides and
reporting on pesticide issues that don't always get coverage by the
mainstream media. It's produced by Pesticide Action Network North
America, a non-profit and non-governmental organization working to
advance sustainable alternatives to pesticides worldwide.
You can join our efforts! We gladly accept donations for our work
and all contributions are tax deductible in the United States. Visit
our extensive web site at http://www.panna.org to learn more about
getting involved.
===========================================
NOTE: Replies to the sender of this message
will not be read.
To comment, send a message to:
[log in to unmask]
To subscribe, send a blank message to:
[log in to unmask]
To unsubscribe, send a blank message to:
[log in to unmask]
Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA)
49 Powell St., Suite 500, San Francisco, CA 94102 USA
Phone: (415) 981-1771
Fax: (415) 981-1991
Email: [log in to unmask]
Web: http://www.panna.org
===========================================
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|
