Genetically Engineered Food Alert "Reckless USDA Policy Fails to Keep Biopharmaceuticals out of Food Supply" "Coalition Calls on the USDA for Contamination Information Including Name of Drug or Chemical Being Withheld" FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: November 13, 2002 Matt Rand, 202-887-8841 Mark Helm, 202-783-7400 x102 Washington - Last night the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) revealed that 500,000 bushels of soybeans destined for human consumption have been quarantined due to contamination by a corn crop genetically engineered to produce a pharmaceutical or industrial chemical. The USDA has refused to reveal what chemical or drug was grown in the biopharmaceutical corn, or divulge the exact location where the contaminated food crop is being held. Perhaps most disturbing is the fact that USDA was unable to ensure a 100% containment of the contaminated crop, or offer specifics on this gross failure of their regulatory system. "We warned USDA earlier this year this was going to happen. If the USDA continues to allow biopharm food crops to be planted, someone is going to get prescription drugs or industrial chemicals in their corn flakes," said Larry Bohlen, Friends of the Earth's Director of Health and Environment Programs. "The public has the right to know what's going on. There is a genetically engineered pharmaceutical or industrial chemical that mistakenly entered into the grain supply only one stop away from getting into our food and the government isn't talking," stated Matt Rand, Biotechnology Campaign Manager, for the National Environmental Trust. In a letter sent today, Friends of the Earth demanded that the USDA disclose specific information concerning the biocontamination, including: - The name of the genetically engineered drug or chemical - Detailed information on how the contamination occurred - Information on potential human health impacts the drug or chemical could cause - Confinement information - The application and contingency plan from ProdiGene—the company that produced the crop - Extensiveness of contamination - Records of the USDA inspections In the wake of this latest failure to properly protect the food supply the Genetically Engineered Food Alert coalition is once again calling on the USDA to prohibit open-air cultivation of all crops genetically engineered with biopharmaceuticals (such as vaccines), industrial chemicals, or other substances with potential human health impacts Biotechnology companies have conducted over 300 field trials across the country since 1991. It is probable that contamination of the US food supply with genetically engineered pharmaceuticals has already occurred – we have no way of knowing due to the extreme degree of secrecy surrounding the locations of biopharm field trials and the nature of the drugs and chemicals they are engineered to produce. ### The GEFoodAlert is a coalition of health, consumer and environmental groups that supports the removal of genetically engineered ingredients from grocery store shelves unless they are adequately safety tested and labeled. For a comprehensive report on biopharm, see www.gefoodalert.org November 13, 2002 Ann M. Veneman Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture 1400 Independence Avenue SW Washington DC 20250 Re: FDA Announcement of Contamination of Food Crops by Biopharmaceutical Corn Dear Secretary Veneman: The disturbing revelation this week that 500,000 bushels of soybeans destined for human consumption have been quarantined due to possible contamination by a variety of corn genetically engineered to produce an industrial chemical or drug underscores the inadequacy of your policy regarding these crops. In a written response, dated Oct. 9, 2002, to our letter expressing concern that a contamination incident such as this would occur, USDA stated that, "We believe that the current handling and disposal requirements for crops that produce biopharmaceuticals are sufficient to prevent risk to the environment or to the public." The recent event illustrates that regulations adopted by the USDA are wholly inadequate. According to the journal Nature Biotechnology, “There is no harvesting system in place in the world that is capable of containing all the seeds produced on a plot of land. Many factors can combine to result in a large number of seeds (> 1000/acre) remaining in the fields." Along with the food processing industry, we strongly urge that you immediately prohibit the engineering of food crops with prescription drugs and industrial chemicals. We also request that the USDA disclose specific information on the biocontamination incident in Nebraska this week, including: 1) The name of the genetically engineered drug or chemical 2) Detailed information on how the contamination occurred 3) Information on potential human health impacts the drug or chemical could cause 4) Confinement information 5) The application and contingency plan from ProdiGene—the company that produced the crop 6) Extensiveness of contamination 7) Records of the USDA inspections As mentioned in our letter to you from the Genetically Engineered Food Alert coalition dated July 10th, 2002, we recommend that you take the following additional steps to protect the American food supply and environment: 1) Stop granting permits for open-air cultivation of all crops genetically engineered with biopharmaceuticals (such as vaccines), industrial chemicals, or other substances with potential human health impacts. 2) Allow, at most, the genetic engineering of chemicals or biopharmaceuticals into those non-food crops that do not pose the risk of food contamination. 3) Require non-food crops engineered with chemicals or biopharmaceuticals to be cultivated indoors and establish a tracking system governing the handling and disposal of byproducts to prevent environmental contamination. 4) Explore contained alternatives to open-air biopharming for production of biopharmaceuticals. We request that the USDA act promptly on these recommendations and reply in writing. Sincerely, Larry Bohlen Director, Health and Environment Programs Friends of the Earth Matt Rand Biotechnology Campaign Manager National Environmental Trust cc: Cindy Smith Acting Deputy Administrator Biotechnology Regulatory Services USDA