Food Makers Seek Tests for New Biotech Crops

Food makers stung by recalls involving biotech corn products say the government shouldn’t approve any other genetically engineered crops unless there is a way to test for them. Last fall, the industry was thrown into disarray when a variety of biotech corn that wasn’t approved for human consumption was found in taco shells. “We’ve learned a lot of lessons, that’s the bottom line,” said Lisa Katic, director of scientific and nutrition policy for the Grocery Manufacturers of America. “We need to know what’s in our products.” Biotech soy and corn are found in foods throughout U.S. supermarkets because biotech and conventional crops are routinely mixed together. 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 with the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA is considering tightening its approval process for biotech crops in response to consumer and food industry concerns.