$9m settlement paid to consumers over StarLink contamination

 Chemical Week
 March 20, 2002
 
 Aventis Settles StarLink Lawsuit
 by: NEIL FRANZ
 
 Aventis CropScience and several food manufacturers have agreed to pay a
 total of $9 million to settle a class-action lawsuit brought by consumers,
 who allege that genetically modified StarLink corn caused allergic
 reactions.
 
 StarLink, which is approved only for animal feed and nonfood industrial
 uses, was discovered in late 2000 in taco shells and other corn food
 products. Starlink produces a controversial protein called
 Cry9C, which EPA says is a potential human allergen (CW, Aug. 8, 2001, p. 32).
 
 Aventis CropScience, which Bayer is acquiring, argues that StarLink does not
 pose a human health risk, and denies liability for the claims of the
 lawsuit. But settling the case is "the best possible way to move forward,"
 says Aventis.
 
 Other companies involved in the settlement are Kraft Foods (Northfield, IL),
 Azteca Foods (Summit-Argo, IL), and AstraZeneca affiliate Garst Seed Co.
 (Slater, IA).
 
 Aventis is facing separate lawsuits brought by farmers, who are demanding
 reimbursement for losses caused by the StarLink mix-up.