Author: Julie Vorman
Publication: Reuters
Date: Monday, November 27, 2000

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Regardless of how the StarLink bio-corn safety debate plays out, more U.S. foodmakers will likely begin voluntarily labeling products with gene-spliced ingredients to give consumers more information, Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman said on Monday.

Labeling is one of the key issues in the battle between U.S. environmentalists and agribusiness over regulation of bio-foods.

Many European and Asian nations already require labels on foods containing genetically modified corn, soybeans, tomatoes and other crops. But American industry groups oppose mandatory labeling in the United States because of the cost and the worry that consumers may interpret it as a warning that a food is less safe.

The recent controversy over StarLink gene-spliced corn -- a variety not approved for use in human food but found in tacos and chips -- has raised fresh questions about bioengineered

foods.

``I think the trend is unstoppable toward more and more labeling,`` Glickman told Reuters in an interview.

``We`ve got to recognize that the consumer is king or queen in this mess,`` he said. ``Folks are going to want to know what`s in their food.``

Glickman, who is wrapping up nearly six years as President Clinton (news - web sites)`s agriculture secretary, has long been an advocate of biotechnology as a way to improve farm yields and reduce pesticides. All the gene-altered foods now on the market have been thoroughly tested and are safe for human health and the environment, he said.

``By fighting labeling, you give the impression that there is something wrong with the product,`` Glickman added.

No Need For Label Mandate

While labels may be needed to satisfy consumer hunger for more information about foods they buy, the government should not require them, Glickman said.

``I`m not calling for mandatory labeling because we don`t have any of the testing and threshold mechanisms, or would really know how to do it,`` he said.

But many foodmakers, which are keenly aware of consumer shopping habits and preferences, are likely to adopt voluntary labels.

``You`re going to find more and more companies engaged in labeling,`` Glickman said. ``We have to work with them to make sure it`s sensible, that the labeling means something and that it`s not frightening.``

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (news - web sites), which has authority over food labels, is expected to soon issue guidelines to be used by companies that want to voluntarily label foods. The FDA is also expected to begin requiring companies to consult with agency scientists before taking new bio-food to market.

Currently, only a few foods sold in organic food stores carry labels which say they are free of any biotech crops. Industry experts have estimated that more than half of U.S. foods sold in typical grocery stores -- ranging from salad dressings to snack foods to breakfast cereals -- contain gene-altered soybeans, corn or other crops.

Two bills that would require some form of labeling were introduced earlier this year in the U.S. Congress by Sen. Barbara Boxer of California and Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio, both Democrats. The legislation is likely to resurface when the new Congress meets in January, although it remains unclear how much bipartisan support the bills can muster.

Starlink Dominates Bio-Food Debate

The discovery of StarLink contamination in taco shells, chips and cornmeal in late September has focused new attention on biotech crops.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is set to hold a public hearing on Tuesday as regulators consider whether to grant temporary approval of StarLink in human food. If they do not, StarLink maker Aventis SA (AVEP.PA) may face tens of millions of dollars in liability claims by foodmakers, grain elevators, farmers and consumers.

Aventis, which has submitted new science data to the EPA, contends StarLink is safe for human consumption and carries little, if any, risk of triggering diarrhea, rashes, respiratory problems or other allergic reactions.

Meanwhile, the USDA is continuing to help Aventis buy back as much of the autumn StarLink harvest as possible to prevent it from tainting the food supply.

The action to strictly segregate StarLink corn for animal feed or ethanol production is being carried out ``on a product which in my judgement has no human health risks whatsoever,`` Glickman said.

``Production agriculture, consumer groups and the food companies are all going to have a few years of major challenges as we look at the science of these issues and as we see how they should be properly regulated,`` he said. ``We`re facing that now during the StarLink discussion.``