Canada confiscates unapproved GM corn shipments Reuters 15mar01

OTTAWA - Canada quickly confiscated two corn shipments from the United States that were found to contain the Starlink gene -- which is not registered for human or animal consumption in Canada.

"It did not go into the food system," Agriculture Minister Lyle Vanclief told reporters Thursday.

He said Canadian authorities sought out the genetically modified corn after it was discovered in food in the United States this week.

It is not approved for human consumption in the U.S. because it's feared it may trigger allergic reactions. It is allowed in animal feed.

That genetically modified corn brand has not been registered for use in Canada.

Starlink was engineered by life sciences firm Aventis SA

Vanclief said one shipment was removed immediately while the other had to be traced and then withdrawn. He did not specify the sizes of the shipments.

Food giant Kellogg Co.'s Worthington Foods Inc. Tuesday voluntarily recalled its meat-free corn dogs in the United States after a sample was shown to contain Starlink corn.