-Caveat Lector- Farmers warned against biotech corn By PHILIP BRASHER, Associated Press WASHINGTON (February 13, 2001 6:28 p.m. EST http://www.nandotimes.com) - Stray kernels of the biotech corn that caused nationwide recalls of taco shells still pose a problem for farmers this year, even though the seed is no longer for sale. The National Corn Growers Association warned its members Tuesday that stray kernels from last year's crop of StarLink corn could sprout in fields and cross-pollinate with other varieties of corn if farmers aren't careful. StarLink corn was never approved for human consumption because of unresolved questions about its potential for causing allergic reactions. Many farmers didn't know about the restriction, or else ignored it, and the biotech grain wound up contaminating at least 80 million bushels of last year's corn harvest. Kraft Foods was among several companies that recalled taco shells and other products after StarLink was detected in them. There is a danger that stray StarLink plants will contaminate corn fields this year, "further compounding the problems of keeping StarLink out of the supply of U.S. corn," said Fred Yoder, chairman of the growers association's biotech working group. Farmers are advised to grow something other than corn, such as soybeans, on last year's StarLink acreage, or else plant herbicide-tolerant varieties of corn. Those varieties can be sprayed with a weedkiller that will kill the StarLink plants. But even that option has its own potential problem, because corn that's immune to the popular weedkiller, Roundup, isn't approved for sale in Europe. Farmers also are being warned not to plant any corn seed that hasn't been tested for the presence of StarLink. StarLink is one of several types of corn that have been genetically engineered to kill an insect pest, but it is the only one not allowed in food. The American Corn Growers Association, a smaller group that is critical of biotechnology, has said that farmers should be compensated by StarLink's maker, Aventis CropScience, for any contaminated crops grown this year. Meanwhile Tuesday, an anti-biotech group released a report prepared by the Food and Drug Administration on attitudes of consumers toward genetically engineered products. Virtually everyone questioned in a series of focus groups the agency sponsored last year believed that foods ought to be labeled if they contain any genetically engineered ingredients. "Consumers want to have information on how their food is prepared for a variety of reasons," said Richard Caplan of the U.S. Public Interest Research Group. FDA has refused to impose mandatory labeling on biotech foods. The agency says there is no justification for labeling food with biotech ingredients that are essentially the same as conventional ones. The food industry fears such labeling could unfairly stigmatize biotech products. ANOMALOUS IMAGES AND UFO FILES http://www.anomalous-images.com <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html">Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
