StarLink

USDA(United States Department of Agriculture) (2003 ).Starlink Test Results, November 19, 2003. United States Department of Agriculture, Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration, Washington DC, USA. 

Taco Shells Starlink (2000, US). Taco shells contained 1% corn not approved by FDA for human consumption... 

The previously discussed StarLink episode is perhaps the most widely evaluated incidence potentially leading to potential health effects associated with GMOs. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in a retrospective study, the US FDA hypothesized that exposure to the Bt Cry9c protein could be cause for allergic responses. However, the results of the FDA research concluded that there was no evidence of GMO-mediated allergenicity subsequent to potential exposure to the StarLink corn. 

For a complete analysis of the EPA s actions over the StarLink Biotech Bt... 

The first major event to focus national attention on the potential violability of the U.S. food chain occurred when StarLink corn made its way into the human food... 

Harl N, Moline S (2003). The StarLink situation. Ames Iowa State University. White Paper. Available http //www.exnet.iastate.edu/Pages/grain/publications/starlink.html. Accessed 5 June 2005. 

Lin W, Allen E (2001). Starlink Impacts on the U.S. corn market and world trade. Feed Yearbook/April 2001. Economic Research Service, USA, pp. 40-48. Available http // www.ers.usda.gov/Briefing/Biotechnology/starlinkarticle.pdf. Accessed 20 August 2004. 

Furthermore, an allergic reaction cannot occur on first exposure to a substance. It takes repeated exposure to build up the antibodies that eventually react with an allergen to produce an allergic reaction. Since the manufacturer of the suspect taco shells immediately removed the product from the market, the chance of a reaction, even if the protein did turn out to be allergenic, was minimal. The antibiotech rhetoric generated by the StarLink issue in some circles is not supported by the facts. 

Carter, C.A., Smith, A., 2007. Estimating the market effect of a food scare the case of genetically modified StarLink corn. Rev. Econ. Stat. 89, 522-533. 

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