Unapproved Dow Trait Found In Corn
March 4, 2008 Even though an unapproved trait was discovered in 2006 and 2007 seed, this year’s corn crop will not be affected.
Traces of Dow AgroSciences’ biotech Event 32 trait were discovered in Herculex RW and Herculex XTRA Rootworm Protection corn planted in 2006 and 2007, but the trait poses no risks to food or feed safety, according to USDA. The company self-reported the discovery.
USDA, EPA, and the Food and Drug Administration concluded that there are no public health, food, or feed safety concerns. Additionally, USDA and EPA have determined the biotech corn variety poses no plant pest or environmental concerns. An article by Reuters said that the 2008 corn crop will not be affected when it is planted this spring across the US.
Corn Event 32 was found at extremely low levels – approximately three seeds per 1,000 — in affected Herculex seed products. Dow reported the discovery to the government on Jan. 25, said Cindy Ragin, spokeswoman for USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).
"We took steps to investigate the information that was submitted to us by Dow," she said. "We don’t think our trading partners will stop corn trade with the United States. There are no food or feed safety concerns."
Farmers planted 53,000 acres with the affected seed in 2007, Dow told APHIS. The total US corn acreage last year was 93 million acres. The seed was inadvertently sold to farmers by Dow AgroSciences’ affiliate Mycogen Seeds.
The unapproved trait produces proteins that are identical to an approved trait, which is permitted by several foreign countries, APHIS said. Dow recalled the affected seed that was shipped to farmers for the 2008 planting season, and grain traders said the discovery would not affect U.S. corn sales.
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