Aventis CropScience Unable to Convince Allergen Experts of Corn¹s Safety

Washington, DC – In a report released today, an Environmental Protection Agency scientific advisory panel (SAP) confirmed that StarLink® genetically engineered corn is a potential food allergen. The panel concluded that the protein Cry9C found in the corn could be a food allergen and was unconvinced by the data submitted by Aventis CropScience asserting that there was no allergenic risk.

In a one-day meeting held in Washington, DC on November 28, the scientific advisory panel probed questions about whether StarLink® corn could be a food allergen to consumers, and the degree to which its proliferation in the human food supply could be a health risk to consumers. The panel comprised of experts from around the world heard presentations by EPA, incidence reports filed to the agency by consumers who claimed they had allergic reactions after eating StarLink® and testimony from Aventis CropScience, the corn¹s developer, along with other industry and public interest groups.

EPA convened the SAP to collect more information after Aventis requested a four-year exemption on StarLink®, a move that would allow the product into the human food supply, even though EPA previously approved it as animal feed. Aventis submitted data to the agency trying to convince EPA of the safety of StarLink® corn for consumers and testified at length at the SAP, arguing their case. Aventis was unable to convince an expert panel that the corn is safe in the human food supply.

"According to the report, there is a chance that StarLink® corn that entered the food supply could cause an allergic reaction for anyone who eats a product that contains StarLink®," said Larry Bohlen, Health and Environment Programs Director at Friends of the Earth.

This is the same determination that a scientific advisory panel made in their assessment of the corn last February. Aventis was denied its appeals to the EPA to approve StarLink® corn for human consumption.

"This is the second time that the EPA has convened an advisory panel on StarLink® and both times it has concluded that concerns about StarLink® in the food supply are valid," said Richard Caplan, Environmental Advocate for The State Public Interest Research Group s (PIRGs).

One National Academy of Sciences scientist on the panel stated that there is no threshold for what amount of a substance makes a food allergen. Meaning that even extremely small amounts of the protein could cause an allergic reaction in humans.

Additionally, Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) uncovered submissions by Aventis that show the level of the suspected protein allergen engineered into the corn may be 20-500 times higher than reported by Aventis last week. The information my be found on Senator Durbin's website at: http://www.senate.gov/~durbin/PressReleases/henney.htm

EPA Exemption Should Not be Granted to Aventis Without a Œgreen light¹ from a panel of experts and scientists, the Genetically Engineered Food Alert will call on the EPA to again deny an exemption to Aventis CropScience.

"Because the scientific advisory panel was unable to say conclusively that StarLink® is safe to eat, the EPA cannot, with a clear conscience, approve it," said Phil Clapp, President of the National Environmental Trust. "EPA should not race through this process and let Aventis off the hook."

The EPA scientific advisory panel report can be found at www.epa.gov/scipoly/sap.

ABOUT THE GE FOOD ALERT CAMPAIGN AND GEFoodAlert.org
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.

For more information, visit www.gefoodalert.org