Tuesday December 5 2:59 PM ET
 U.S. Science Panel Concerned StarLink Corn Allergenic

 By Julie Vorman

 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An independent panel of U.S. scientists on
 Tuesday dealt a blow to Aventis SA's (NYSE:AVE - news) bid to win 
 temporary approval of StarLink bio-corn for human food by finding 
 that the corn had a ``medium likelihood'' of causing allergic reactions.

 The group of physicians, chemists and other scientists concluded that
 there were still many questions about the safety of StarLink, a type 
 of corn engineered to repel pests.

 The Environmental Protection Agency, which appointed the panel, said it
 would use the 28-page, highly technical report to guide its decision on 
 the Aventis request.

 ``EPA will continue its evaluation of the scientific information, and
 develop the appropriate regulatory approach in response to the StarLink 
 situation to ensure protection of public health and continued consumer 
 confidence in the safety and integrity of the food supply,'' Stephen Johnson,
 EPA deputy assistant administrator, said in a statement.

 A spokeswoman for Aventis, the giant Franco-German pharmaceutical maker
 and seed company, said the firm had no immediate comment.

 The EPA landed in the middle of the controversy over StarLink corn
 because of its 1998 decision to approve the corn for use as animal feed -- 
 but not for human food because of lingering concerns about health and safety.

 In September, traces of StarLink were found in taco shells purchased at
 a Washington, D.C. area grocery store. That set off a massive recall of 
 more than 300 kinds of taco shells, chips, cornmeal and other foods by 
 U.S. companies.

 Investigators have determined that a portion of the 80 million bushel
 StarLink crop this year was accidentally commingled with vast amounts 
 of conventional corn by farmers, grain elevators and shippers. Aventis 
 launched a $100 million buy-back program, but the company's costs could be
 much higher because of the recalls by food processors and expenses by
 grain handlers.

 Questions Raised

 The science panel's report raised more questions about StarLink safety,
 suggesting it may be to blame for rashes, diarrhea and other allergic 
 reactions reported by some 44 Americans. As many as 14 of those illnesses 
 may have been caused by StarLink, but further investigation is needed to
 rule out other allergens, the report said.

 The report dismissed many of Aventis' arguments in favor of granting a
 four-year temporary approval for the corn so that all contaminated supplies 
 can work their way through food processors, distribution channels and 
 consumers' pantries.

 The group of scientists concluded that there was a ``medium
 likelihood'' that StarLink's unique Cry9C protein is a potential allergen, 
 based on the chemical properties of the protein. More data is needed, 
 however, to analyze allergenicity, the report said.

 Based on the best available estimates of StarLink residue in the U.S.
 diet, there is a ``low probability'' of allergic reactions, the scientists 
 said. ``There is need for a better evaluation of the amount of StarLink corn 
 that could be in the food chain,'' the report said.

 The panel also said it was ``highly doubtful'' that much more StarLink
 corn would contaminate the U.S. food supply, now that seedmaker Aventis 
 has withdrawn the corn variety from the market.

 Environmentalists said the science panel's report would make it
 difficult for the EPA to approve the Aventis request.

 ``This gives the EPA plenty of ammunition to delay a decision or to
 deny Aventis' petition outright,'' said Becky Goldburg, a biotech expert 
 with Environmental Defense.

 ``The overall risk is probably fairly low, but there is just
 uncertainty after uncertainty about whether StarLink corn is an 
 allergen,'' she added. ``The information is not there for EPA to make
 a sound scientific decision at this time.''