US food manufacturers demand tighter GMO testing
say the U.S. government should not approve any more genetically
modified crops unless...
Food manufacturers, reacting to recalls of biotech corn products, say the U.S. government should not approve any more genetically modified crops unless there is a way to test for them, according to a report from Associated Press. A variety of biotech corn - not approved for human consumption - was found in taco shells last fall, throwing the U.S. food industry into disarray. "We've learned a lot of lessons, that's the bottom line. We need to know what's in our products." said Lisa Katic, director of scientific and nutrition policy for the Grocery Manufacturers of America. Testing methods are needed regardless of whether a new genetically engineered crop is essentially the same as a conventionally bred variety, the grocery manufacturers said in a letter filed on Thursday with the Food and Drug Administration. Many overseas buyers will not accept foods made from biotech crops, and some countries require such foods to be labelled, making it imperative for manufacturers to be able to tell whether ingredients include gene-altered crops, Katic said. A mandatory review process for new biotech products-which includes the posting of scientific data on the Internet-has been proposed. Monsanto Co. Source: PlanetRice.net
