KELLOGG'S RECALLS GENETICALLY
CONTAMINATED CORN DOGS
KELLOGG'S RECALLS GENETICALLY
CONTAMINATED CORN DOGS
A Kellogg's-owned Morningstar Farms product has been found to contain genetically engineered ingredients including StarLink corn.
Laboratory testing has revealed that a Kellogg’s product is made with StarLink corn, a genetically altered variety that is not approved for human consumption. In laboratory analyses, Kellogg’s Morningstar Farms brand meat-free Corn Dog tested positive for StarLink, and the corn dog and two other products tested positive for genetically altered soy. Greenpeace today filed notice with the Food and Drug Administration calling on the agency to order an immediate recall and health investigation of the Morningstar product.
"Kellogg’s is selling genetically contaminated Morningstar Farms food and lying to consumers about it," said Charles Margulis, Greenpeace Genetic Engineering Specialist. "Americans have asked Kellogg’s over and over to stop this genetic experiment on our food, yet Kellogg’s refuses to listen and tries to mislead consumers. No one should trust the Kellogg’s or Morningstar names again."
Last October, Kellogg’s was forced to stop production at a Memphis plant due to concerns about StarLink contamination, but the company claimed that no food products were affected. At the time, Kellogg's refused to respond to a Greenpeace survey asking about StarLink or other genetically engineered ingredients in its products.
After its 1999 purchase of Worthington Foods, the original maker of Morningstar Farms products, Kellogg's began telling consumers that Morningstar products would be made with non-GE soy.
In a letter dated August 15, 2000, Kellogg's told a consumer: "We are in the final stages of our conversion to non-genetically modified proteins.." An e-mail from Kellogg's to a consumer dated October 5, 2000 claims: "We have completed conversion to non- genetically modified soy proteins in all Morningstar Farms, Worthington, Natural Touch and Loma Linda products. We are currently purchasing all non-genetically modified soy proteins and have been using these in production since April 1, 2000."
However, the lab tests on Morningstar products bought just last month show that more than 50% of the soy in the Corn Dog is genetically engineered, while Morningstar Veggie Patties and Harvest Burgers contained detectable amounts of the gene altered crop. Subsequent letters from Kellogg’s to consumers admit that Harvest Burgers still contain genetically modified soy.
In other letters about its cereals and other products, Kellogg's admits to American consumers that its U.S. products are "likely" to be made with genetically modified grain. But a Kellogg’s letter to British consumers claims that Kellogg’s "does not use genetically modified maize or soya ingredients or derivatives..." in any of its European products.
"Americans are shopping in the dark when they buy Morningstar Farms products," said Liza Pengelly, a concerned Morningstar Farms consumer in the San Francisco Bay Area. "Genetically tainted foods aren’t labeled, and I can’t trust Kellogg’s. I won’t buy these products until Kellogg’s stops using all gene altered ingredients," she continued.
Kellogg's unit recalls corn dogs with genetically modified corn
Food giant Kellogg Co.'s Worthington Foods Inc. said on Tuesday it is voluntarily recalling its meat-free corn dogs after a sampling was shown to contain genetically-modified corn that has not been approved for human consumption.
The move, which the company called a "precautionary measure", comes less than a week after the environmental group Greenpeace announced it had found traces of StarLink corn in the Kellogg corn dogs. Regulators have not approved StarLink, engineered by life sciences firm Aventis SA, for humans because of fears it may trigger allergic reactions.
The recall applies to corn dogs under the Morningstar Farms and Loma Linda brands. Consumers who have these products are directed to call Kellogg at 1-877-924-4247 for further information.
"While StarLink corn has not been approved for human food, (Environmental Protection Agency) officials, as well as leading allergists and scientists, have emphasized that the corn poses no immediate health concerns," a recorded message at the number said.
Written by: Greenpeace USA
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