Green groups to test Bt corn for allergic reaction.
10/11/2001
Reuters English News Service (C) Reuters Limited 2001.
WASHINGTON, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Unhappy with a federal investigation into dozens of allergy
complaints, a coalition of U.S. environmental and consumer groups said on Thursday they would launch
their own probe into whether the reactions were caused by genetically engineered corn.
The Genetically Engineered Food Alert said its action was in anticipation of the Environmental
Protection Agency's decision next week to renew the registrations of Bt corn. The EPA has been weighing
whether to extend the registration of the gene-spliced plants, and has extended its deadline twice for
public comments on the issue.
Foodmakers contend that Bt corn is safe and eliminates the need for other, more dangerous pesticides.
Green groups say more research is needed into the long-term impact of Bt corn on the environment and
human health.
Bt crops are engineered to produce the pesticide Bacillus thurigiensis, which protects growing plants
from destructive pests.
Larry Bohlen, spokesman for Friends of the Earth and a coalition member, said EPA was rushing the reregistration process despite the group's concerns about its long-term impacts on health and the
environment.
"The agency should gather the evidence needed to assure consumers that Bt corn is safe to eat before it
approves the corn for planting," Bohlen said.
Several companies' Bt corn registrations expired Sept. 30 and Bohlen said the EPA is expected to issue a
decision Monday.
The coalition has urged EPA to suspend Bt corn registrations until more evidence shows the products
won't cause allergic reactions.
The group said it will send samples of Bt corn varieties to allergists, who can then test their patients
through controlled "skin prick" tests. The test results will be made public.
Last year, the group was the first to alert the public that an unapproved genetically modified corn variety
had been found in the food supply.
The discovery of StarLink corn, made by the European drug giant Aventis SA , in taco shells sparked the
recall of hundreds of food products and hurt U.S. corn exports overseas.
A U.S. science advisory panel earlier this year said the gene-spliced corn had a "medium likelihood" of
being a human allergen.