LONDON (AP)
- An environmental group opposed to biotechnology said varieties
of genetically-engineered corn banned in Britain have made their
way into at least three brands of tortilla chips on sale here.
Friends of
the Earth (news
- web
sites) announced Saturday that GeneScan, a Freiburg, Germany-based
laboratory, found a biotech corn called Monsanto GA21, or Roundup
Ready, in tortilla chips made by Britain's Phileas Fogg as well
as in chips made by supermarket chains Asda and Safeway.
Smaller traces
of an another genetically modified corn, Dekalb DBT418, were found
during GeneScan's tests of tortilla chips made by the supermarket
chains Tesco and Sainsbury's, said the group, which tested 20
products overall.
That corn
is also marketed by St. Louis-based Monsanto Co., and is more
commonly known as Dekalb Bt-Xtra. None of the product was sold
this year, Monsanto said late Sunday.
``This isn't
first time Friends of the Earth has pulled one of these exercises,''
said Hugh Grant, Monsanto's chief operating officer.
Spokesmen
from Asda, Safeway and United Biscuits, which owns Phileas Fogg,
said their products have previously been tested and have been
found to be free of biotech ingredients. However, all three said
the group's findings would be investigated.
Both Monsanto
GA21 and Dekalb DBT418 are banned in Britain, but are approved
for consumption in the United States, Japan and Canada.
In response
to the allegations, however, Grant said the company will no longer
introduce any new genetically modified commodity crops for planting
in the U.S. until they obtain approval for animal and human consumption
in both the U.S. and Japan.
For planting
in the U.S., the company previously only waited for U.S. approval.
Other types
of genetically-modified corn have been approved for sale in Britain,
said Friends of the Earth campaigner Adrian Bebb, though the government
does not allow British farmers to buy or plant them.
Britain is
extremely wary of genetically modified - or GM - food. Many products
sold in the nation's grocery stores carry labels proclaiming them
GM-free.
Safeway and
Kraft Foods recalled their brands of taco shells in the United
States earlier this month after they were found to contain a corn
not approved for human consumption, called Starlink. The corn
contains a bacterium gene that makes it toxic to some insects,
and there are fears it could cause allergic reactions in people.
Products made
from genetically-modified foods haven't aroused similar concerns
in the United States, where some 50 varieties of genetically altered
crops have already been approved for use.
Monsanto is
primarily owned by Peapack, N.J.-based Pharmacia Corp.
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