The U.S. Department of Agriculture, after approving the unrestricted planting to genetically-altered alfalfa and sugar beets, has now approved a type of corn genetically engineered to make it easier to convert into ethanol.
The corn, developed in Switzerland by Syngenta, is labeled Enogen. (Doesn’t this sound like bad science fiction?) The corn contains a trait that kicks in after the harvest. It has the potential to interfere with food processing--it has been claimed that one kernel in 10,000 can weaken the corn starch and mess up food processing operations. General Mills and many other processors oppose its introduction.
In 2000 a genetically modified corn for animal use called StarLink found its way into human food, causing massive recalls. Here we go again.
I don’t think this story was carried on network news, but you can read about Enogen in Andrew Pollack’s article in the Business section of the New York Times of February 12. For Syngenta’s view, go to <http://enogen.net/en/index.html>.
Note to friends of David Wargo
David Wargo writes a weekly column for the Times News entitled “Don’t Blink.” Would somebody who is this man’s friend please explain to him the difference between climate and weather? I hate to see him keep embarrassing himself whenever he writes about global climate change. Do it for his sake.
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