GM Potatoes on Hold in US.

Farmers Weekly Feb 4th 2000 (UK).

Genetically modified potatoes are on hold in the US, as major processors
and consumers turn their backs on the new technology.

Speaking at Agra Europe Potato 2000 Conference in Rome, Oscar
Gutbrod from Oregon State Universitysaid growers had been forced to drop
GM potatoes in response to consumer demands.

"About 80% of our production is in the US for processing", he said. "McDonalds, 
Burger King and Wendy have all said no to GM fries and the whole industry has 
had to back off".

Commercially approved varieties had included resistance to colorado
beetle and potato virus Y. As with soya and maize they had cut chemical
use. "While soya and maize go into vegetable oil, the perception of
eating GM potatoes is different even though they may be cooked in GM
oil", said Professor Gutbrod. Cees Van Arendonk, Agrico, believed GM
potatoes would not be accepted in the E/U for at least fifteen
years. "Modification which makes plants tolerant to chemical treatments
is obviously against European consumer demands to strongly reduce the
use of chemicals in food production', he said.