This is the VOA SpecialEnglish AGRICULTURE REPORT.
Recently, American government scientists completed aninvestigation of a product called StarLink corn. StarLink is theonly genetically-engineered crop grown in the United States that isnot approved for human use.
The scientists said they found no evidence that StarLink corn hadmade anyone sick. Reports said the announcement could help reducepublic concern that the corn represents a threat to human health.
A company called Aventis CropScience developed StarLink corn.Scientists developed the corn by a process of genetic engineering.Genetic engineering is the technology of changing the genes ofliving things. The changed gene directs the plant or other organismto do things it normally does not do.
StarLink is among several kinds of genetically-engineered corndesigned to resist insects. Three years ago, the EnvironmentalProtection Agency approved StarLink corn as food for animals.However, E-P-A officials expressed concern that a protein inStarLink might cause allergic reactions in people.
Groups opposed to genetic engineering have been testing foodproducts for StarLink. Last year, tests showed it was present insome corn products for people. The makers of the corn productsordered their return.About fifty people told the Food and DrugAdministration they had allergic reactions after eating productsthey thought contained the corn. In the new study, officials fromthe Centers for Disease Control questioned some of the people whoreported allergic reactions.
Scientists from the C-D-C and the F-D-A tested the blood ofseventeen of the people. The scientists tested the blood forsubstances called antibodies. The presence of antibodies would showa reaction to the protein in the corn that was considered thepossible allergen. No such antibodies were found.
The C-D-C said the tests did not find any evidence that extremesensitivity to the protein caused an allergic reaction. Anindependent laboratory confirmed the findings.
Critics of genetic engineering say the investigation was toolimited to show that the corn is safe. But a group that representsthe biotechnology industry praised the findings.
This VOA Special English AGRICULTURE REPORT was written by GeorgeGrow.