StarLink maize, a GMO corn banned a decade ago, has been found in food products in Saudi Arabia. This unsettling news raises the question of how an illegal form of GM corn that was supposedly eradicated has become infiltrated into the food supply.
The study published in Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology reports that contamination of the Saudi Arabian food supply with GM ingredients is pervasive. Included among the contaminants is StarLink maize, a type of Bt corn patented by Aventis CropScience. It was approved in the U.S. for industrial use and animal feed in 1998, but the maize was never sanctioned for human consumption due to safety issues.
In the recent research, 200 food samples were collected and analyzed from several Saudi Arabian provinces. Many cases of GM contamination were found, and 5.9 percent of the samples tested positive for StarLink maize.
It is not known how StarLink came to be present in the Saudi Arabian food supply, as no GM crops have been produced in the country since 2004. Although the Saudi Arabian government permits the import of GMO foods that are clearly labeled as such, this maize should not have been mixed with human food.
What Safety Issues Are Associated With StarLink Maize?
StarLink maize is a GM corn that “protects” crops by using Cry9C proteins to kill caterpillars. The purpose of these proteins is to destroy stomach and liver cells of insects. However, the effects are not confined to insects, as they harm livestock as well. Multiple studies validate concerns that these health issues will travel up the food chain and affect humans.
According to the EPA Scientific Advisory Panel, Cry9C presents a “medium risk potential” to harm humans. They consider the nature of the harm to be primarily allergenic, but the facts show the food’s toxic effects go far beyond mere food allergies. Some studies show an association between Bt toxins and forms of cancer, including leukemia. Additionally, the EPA had received many reports of adverse health effects from Cry9C.
Illegal StarLink Found in Our Food Supply
StarLink maize appeared in taco shells in the U.S. in 2000, indicating it had entered the human food supply. Afterwards, the product was recalled and the company promised to discontinue its production.
Disturbingly, this is not the only instance in which illegal GM products have been detected within our food. When the U.S. sent aid to Central America in 2005, the food was tested and StarLink was found in 80 percent of the 50 samples.
What Is the Reason Underlying the Infiltration of the Banned GMO Into the Food Supply?
Cross-pollination may account for a large part of the problem. The surfacing of StarLink maize in Saudi Arabia and in food sent to Central America indicates that once a GM variety exists, it may be impossible to control.
A statement from the Institute for Responsible Technology reveals the mammoth-sized magnitude of the problem. “GMOs cross pollinate and their seeds can travel. It is impossible to fully clean up our contaminated gene pool. Self-propagating GMO pollution will outlast the effects of global warming and nuclear waste. The potential impact is huge, threatening the health of future generations,” they say.
This latest study confirms the concerns raised by anti-GMO activists about dissemination of GMO seed have great merit. Sadly, the study also confirms that reassurances issued by Biotech Giants regarding this issue are not to be trusted.
While we cannot fully undo the damage caused by the global spread of GMOs, we can put a stop to their continued production. This is critically important for the sake of our health and the sake of our environment.
Sources:
http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/breaking-illegal-starlink%E2%84%A2-gm-corn-resurfaces-saudi-arabian-food-supply http://www.thealternativedaily.com/gmo-starlink-corn-illegal-for-human-consumption-found-in-saudi-arabian-food-supply/ http://www.nationofchange.org/illegal-gmo-corn-expelled-over-decade-ago-contaminates-saudi-arabian-crops-1377703986