| Farmers, environmentalists ask USDA to block marketing of moldy corn |
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| OCT. 10, 2002, CropChoice
News: Midwestern farmers and environmental organizations
want Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman to stop the marketing of certain
corn varieties produced by Garst Seed Co. that contain a toxic mold
until tests determine whether they caused infertility in hogs and
cattle in midwestern states.
A USDA spokeswoman says that responsibility for investigating the corn lies with the Food and Drug Administration, which reportedly is doing just that. Although the corn, genetically engineered to express the insecticidal bacterium bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), is supposed to better resist molds than conventional corn, tests show it contains high levels of fusarium mold, which can sicken humans and livestock. Source: Associated Press |
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