StarLink corn recall

Introduction

StarLink corn recall refers to a significant event in the history of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and food safety. StarLink corn, a type of genetically modified corn, was found in the food supply chain despite only being approved for animal consumption. This led to a massive recall of food products in the United States.

Background

StarLink corn was a variety of genetically modified maize, produced by Aventis CropScience. It was genetically engineered to produce a modified version of the Cry9C protein from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), which made it resistant to certain pests.

Approval and Controversy

In 1998, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved StarLink corn for animal consumption but not for human consumption due to concerns about potential allergenicity of the Cry9C protein. Despite this restriction, in 2000, traces of StarLink corn were found in taco shells in the United States, leading to a nationwide food recall.

Recall

The discovery of StarLink corn in the human food supply chain led to a massive recall of over 300 food products. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducted tests to determine if people who reported allergic reactions to the corn actually had an allergy to the Cry9C protein, but the results were inconclusive.

Aftermath

The StarLink corn recall had significant impacts on the biotechnology and food industries. It led to tighter regulations and increased scrutiny of genetically modified organisms. The incident also highlighted the difficulty of segregating GM crops intended for animal consumption from those intended for human consumption.

See Also

• Genetically modified food controversies
• Genetically modified organism
• Food safety
• Aventis

External Links

• FDA - StarLink Corn
• CDC - Investigation of Human Health Effects Associated with Potential Exposure to Genetically Modified Corn

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