June 13, 2001 For Immediate Release
Contact:
Amanda Gordon, NET, 202-887-8831/202-907-5704 (cell)
Mark Helm, FoE, 202-783-7400/202-270-3650 (cell)
Results of FDA Tests Inconclusive
Health Risk of StarLink Corn Still Unknown
Coalition continues to demand a full investigation of StarLink allergenicity
Washington, DC Results released today of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tests on a handful of individuals with suspected allergic reactions to StarLink corn do not provide a scientifically sound answer to the question of whether StarLinkšs Cry9C protein is a human allergen. In the wake of these inconclusive tests, the Genetically Engineered Food Alert coalition promised to continue pressing FDA and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to convene a full and thorough investigation of the public health risk StarLink corn may pose to consumers.
"Test results from such a small sample could easily have missed allergic reactions," said Bill Freese of Friends of the Earth. "The EPAšs scientific advisors specifically said that the investigation should be broadened, yet FDA chose to ignore that advice. A thorough investigation is exactly what the public deserves."
"There is no way a credible scientist could rule out Cry9C as a potential human allergen," said Dr. Rebecca Goldburg, Senior Scientist at the Environmental Defense. "Išm especially concerned about the risk to children, who are much more vulnerable to allergies than adults. The FDAšs investigation should have included more children."
Despite the Scientific Advisory Panelšs (SAP) recommendation to widen the scope of the investigation, FDA chose to ignore hundreds of consumers who reported allergic reactions to corn products that may contain StarLink. These reports were unearthed from FDA and EPA documents obtained by Genetically Engineered Food Alert. In one report, 210 consumers blamed corn for allergic reactions, 74 visited doctors, while 20 more had to seek emergency care.
"It would be unacceptable to approve StarLink for human consumption when the science is clearly incomplete," said Matt Rand, Biotechnology Campaign Manager at the National Environmental Trust. "The American public deserves a full and thorough testing of StarLink corn so they do not become the guinea pigs for a dangerous experiment on food allergens."
Other suggestions that the Scientific Advisory Panel made and the FDA ignored include:
1.According to the SAPšs allergy experts, young children are at the greatest risk of developing allergies to novel genetically engineered proteins such as Cry9C.. Yet FDA seems to have tested only one child.
The SAP recommended that the medical community should be informed of the investigation into the allergenicity of Cry9C in corn products. In addition, FDA should monitor reports from the medical community to supplement the cases currently under investigation and to provide additional support for proving or refuting the allergenicity of Cry9C.
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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 is endorsed by more than 200 scientists, religious leaders, doctors, chefs, environmental and health leaders, as well as farm groups.
WWW.GEFoodAlert.Org
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