Kraft Calls for Stronger Regulations of Genetically Engineered Foods

Kraft made the following statements in response to the discovery of StarLink corn in their products. However, government regulations of genetically engineered foods have not been strengthened, and Kraft continues to use these untested and unlabeled ingredients in their products.

“All of us—government, industry, and the scientific community—need to work on ways to prevent this kind of situation from ever happening again.”

-Kraft’s CEO, Betsy Holden, in response to StarLink corn found in Kraft products

Recommendations:

Kraft has four specific improvements the company is recommending for enhancing the safe entry of biotechnology into the marketplace, and encourages the appropriate regulatory authorities to consider the following:

· Discontinuing partial approvals of advances in plant biotechnology, and not allowing crops approved for animal use to enter the market unless they have also been approved for use in food.

· Requiring as a pre-condition to approval that a fully validated testing procedure be in place for identifying the relevant DNA in crops and in finished products.

· Requiring mandatory review of all plant biotechnology advances by the appropriate government agencies before those advances enter the market.

· Strengthening the requirements for environmental stewardship of plant biotechnology to enhance the integrity of the food supply chain from farm to finished product.

To view the entire text of Kraft’s response to the StarLink contamination, visit: http://www.kraft.com/newsroom/09222000.html