Pesticide Action Network Updates Service (PANUPS)

See PANUPS updates service, for complete information.

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.