So, are we witnessing the precautionary principle in action?
Bill
At 08:38 AM 9/20/00 -0600, you wrote:
>Actually there is no evidence it does cause allergic reactions, just the
>suggestion that it "might" cause such reactions. I'm waiting for the other
>shoe to fall. This "independent labratory" has been known to find GMO where
>no one else can.
>sb
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: [log in to unmask]
>[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of William J.
>McKinney, Ph.D.
>Sent: Wednesday, September 20, 2000 8:26 AM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Illegal GE Corn Found in Taco Shells
>
>
>I am just curious -- is there a known threshold at which this substance
>causes allergic reactions, and how much of it was found in the taco shells?
>
>Bill
>
>At 05:11 PM 9/19/00 -0700, you wrote:
>>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.
>>
>>===========================================
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>>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
>>===========================================
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>****************************************
>
>William J. McKinney, Ph.D.
>Associate Professor and Chairperson
>Department of Philosophy and Religion
>MS4200
>Southeast Missouri State University
>Cape Girardeau, MO 63701
>
>e-mail: [log in to unmask]
>voice: 573-651-2818
>fax: 573-651-2200
>
>**************************************
>
>
****************************************
William J. McKinney, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Chairperson
Department of Philosophy and Religion
MS4200
Southeast Missouri State University
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
voice: 573-651-2818
fax: 573-651-2200
**************************************
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