Modified corn producer to pay millions
WebPosted Tue Jan 23 16:20:57 2001
DES MOINES, IOWA-- The U.S. company that
created a strain of genetically-modified corn has agreed to pay millions in
compensation to farmers because it ended up in the food chain.
"We're talking about massive amounts of grain," said Iowa
Attorney-General Tom Miller.
At issue is StarLink, a modified corn meant to be used for industrial
purposes and as animal feed. However, some of it became mixed in with other
varietes of corn in 1999.
StarLink may cause allergic reactions in humans.
Many farmers and grain elevators have not been able to sell their corn
because of suspicions it may contain StarLink.
Under a four-year agreement, Aventis will compensate farmers and help them
with marketing.
The company will pay farmers up to 25-cents per bushel for tainted corn, in
addition to reimbursing them for other losses.
Aventis CropScience could be shelling out between $100 million to one billion
dollars.
StarLink, a
genetically modified corn, was approved for industrial uses and animal
feed. Some of it entered the food chain in 1999.
As a result, thousands of taco shells and other products were recalled across
North America.
Genetically-modified corn
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