Wise Foods to test chips for StarLink corn traces

     WASHINGTON, July 6 (Reuters) - Wise Foods Inc. said Friday it was
testing samples of its white corn tortilla chips for possible contamination 
with StarLink, a genetically-altered yellow corn variety that is not approved 
for human use.

     Traces of StarLink were found in a bag of white corn tortilla chips
made by Wise for the supermarket chain Kash n' Karry.

     Kash n' Karry and its sister retailer, Food Lion, both units of
Delhaize America Inc., recently recalled 11-ounce packages of white corn 
tortilla chips after a Florida optometrist complained to the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) about an allergic reaction after eating chips
from a bag with a code date of May 23. The chips were made by Wise for 
the two retailers' private brands.

     Wise said in a statement that it hired an independent testing lab
to analyze samples of its white corn tortilla chips that are currently 
on store shelves. The FDA is also investigating how the StarLink
contamination occurred with the Wise tortilla chips.

     "We expect the tests to be conducted over the weekend, and will
make the results of these tests available once received," David Lilly, a 
spokesman for Wise Foods, said in statement.

     "While we are confident that the findings of our independent 
laboratory will conclude that the StarLink protein is not present, we 
want the public to know that Wise will immediately remove the product from
store shelves if there is any risk to consumer safety," Lilly said.

     StarLink, a variety of yellow corn engineered to repel pests, was
approved in 1998 only for animal feed.

     Last autumn traces of StarLink were discovered in more than 200
kinds of chips, snack foods and flour, apparently through inadvertent 
commingling by farmers, grain shippers and food processors. The
contamination prompted a massive recall by U.S. food makers and grocery
stores.

     In less than two weeks, a science advisory panel to the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is scheduled to meet and discuss 
whether small amounts of StarLink can be safely permitted in human food.
Aventis SA, maker of StarLink, contends the corn is safe. But environmental 
groups have pressed for more scientific studies to determine its impact 
on human health and the environment.

     Wise said it already required its corn supplier to audit seed
records of all its farmers, to test all incoming yellow and white corn 
from growers, and to test all outgoing yellow corn from its distribution 
facility for StarLink.

     Until the recent incident, StarLink had never been detected in more
than 10 million pounds of corn purchased from its supplier, Wise said.

     "As an additional precautionary measure, Wise has requested our
supplier to implement testing for all outgoing white corn from the supplier 
to our manufacturing locations," Lilly said.

     Georgia-based Wise Foods distributes snack foods throughout the
Eastern United States.