StarLink corn, a genetically modified variety that has been grown in the U.S. but not approved for human consumption, has made its way into foods in Japan, threatening to set off bitter protests in a nation where opposition to genetically modified crops runs strong. In the U.S., contamination of the human food stream by StarLink, which was supposed to be fed only to livestock, has already spurred product recalls, and there are fears that large amounts of this year’s corn crop may be contaminated. European officials are also coming to the U.S. government with concerns about potential contamination of their food supplies. The U.S. declined to authorize the corn for human consumption because of fears that it could cause allergic reactions, but the biotech and food industries this week are trying to get the feds to temporarily approve StarLink for use in food now that it seems to have been spread far and wide. Last week, Kellogg’s temporarily suspended production at one of its factories for Frosted Flakes and other cereals because it couldn’t guarantee that its corn was free of StarLink.
