3-Food: Dutch study: Starlink protein stimulated antibodies in lab rats

[GENETNL <genetnl@xs4all.be>]

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TITLE:  Dutch study: Starlink protein stimulated antibodies in lab rats
SOURCE: United Press International, edited and sent by Agnet, Canada
DATE:   October 29, 2000

------------------ archive: http://www.gene.ch/genet.html ------------------


Dear GENET-news readers,

for more informations on EPA actions and meetings concerning the Starlink 
canola see:
http://www.epa.gov/oppbppd1/biopesticides/news/news-bt-crops-sap-oct.htm
(3 Day Science Advisory Panel Meeting on Bt Plant Pesticides scheduled for 
October 18-20 in Arlington VA)
and other related EPA web pages. Up to now I could not find the mentioned 
Dutch study at the EPA web pages.

Yours,

Hartmut Meyer

                              *****


Dutch study: Starlink protein stimulated antibodies in lab rats

CHICAGO, -- StarLink, planted on just 352,000 acres and representing just 
0.5 percent of the 10.4 billion bushel U.S. corn crop, was, according to 
this story, supposed to be just for animal feed or industrial use. Susan 
Hazen, deputy director of the EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs, was 
quoted as saying that new Aventis data, "suggests three ways of looking at 
the problem. First, they don't believe Cry9C is an allergen. They also 
suggested that even if it is an allergen, it would be present at such low 
volume that it would not be able to trigger an allergic response. You need 
a certain level. Their third argument is that for something to become a 
food allergen it has to be present long enough in the food supply for 
people to build up potential for an allergic reaction."

Hazen was cited as saying that all known food allergens exhibit certain 
characteristics, including stability under heat and a lack of 
digestibility, and unlike other biotech proteins that are digested within 
seconds. Cry9C can hang around for 30 minutes.

At a meeting Oct. 20 of the EPA's Scientific Advisory Panel, Dutch 
scientist Hubert Noteburn was cited as presenting a study indicating rats 
fed StarLink begin producing antibodies. Hazen said she had not yet 
examined the data but that it would be taken into consideration in 
examining Aventis' request. Hazen said the conditional registration granted 
Aventis in 1997 for StarLink made it clear it was the company's 
responsibility to track its corn and keep it out of the food supply.



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