Do You Really Know What You’re Eating? by Shew and Reese

November 14, 2001

Dear Editor:

I felt it imperative that I write to you to correct a number of factual errors in the article “Child’s Death Possibly Linked to Genetically Modified Corn” dated November 12, 2001. Your reporter should take the time to verify information before writing an article. This is particularly true regarding factual information pertaining to technology and recent scientific discoveries and processes.

The ER physician was correct in saying that severe allergic reactions to corn or corn products are rare though there are reports in the literature of anaphylactic reactions to maize (corn). However, the comments by Ms. Patricia Crowley seem intent on creating fear and anger among the public regarding genetically modified organisms (GMOs) by suggesting that “… it’s a wonder we’re not all dead from people playing around with our food[.]” Genetically modified organisms contain genes obtained from other species, but the procedures used to produce these GMOs are closely regulated by companies, universities, the state and federal government, and scientists themselves.

I’m not sure where your reporter obtained her facts, but she obviously failed to read the government review and approval process for Super Maize. The health safety tests found that the Cry9C protein did not resemble any known allergens though the possibility of having potential allergenicity could not be completely ruled out. Thus EPA opted to grant a split registration for Super Maize, which is not an uncommon practice for conventional pesticides. This split registration resulted because the Cry9C protein survives cooking and processing and is hard to digest. Thus, until the question of whether it could cause an allergic reaction in humans could be conclusively answered in the negative, it was felt that it should only be used for livestock feed and industrial purposes. Your reporter is mistaken when stating that “… studies … indicated it was potentially a serious allergen to young children or those with compromised immune systems[.]”

Super Maize corn is resistant to insect pests because it contains a protein called Cry9C (called Bt protein) that is produced in the plant as a result of the presence of a gene obtained from a naturally occurring bacterium found in the soil (Bacillus thuringiensis). This gene was spliced into the genome of the corn using recombinant DNA techniques. This protein is deadly to worms such as the European corn borer by causing damage to their digestive system, but is completely harmless to mammals in this regard. The corn is also resistant to herbicides because of another gene inserted into the corn genome that was obtained from another bacterium, Streptomyces hygroscopicus. Your reporter was incorrect in stating that Super Maize corn was resistant to diseases (refers to conditions caused by bacteria, virus, fungi) and in saying that the foreign genes inserted into the corn came from a fungus.

There is a straightforward, simple test for detection of the Bt protein using a technique called ELISA that is similar to the procedure used in a home pregnancy test. However, there is no way of telling where the corn was grown that contained the Cry9C protein which ultimately came to be present in the taco shell ingested by Eric Linder. Super Maize corn has been grown in a number of states since it was first released for use in commercial production. Mr. Lyle Tate or any other farmer cannot be sure if their corn did or did not become part of the human food chain. However, there were specific written instructions mandated by EPA that the Super Maize corn should be planted with a buffer between it and non-biotech corn. Thus, whether or not Mr. Tate’s neighbor got specific instructions from the seed company about how to properly plant the Super Maize corn is not the real issue. There were instructions available to him if he took the time to read and understand them. It can be debated whether the instructions were sufficient or adequate but they were available.

It is truly a shame that young Eric Linder died, apparently following an allergic reaction to a taco containing a protein produced by genetically modified corn. This does not change the fact that reporters should carefully report the truth and give factual information, not as hyperbole, or myths, or lies. Also, his death does not mean that we should stop scientific progress by discontinuing the production and use of GMOs. A number of very important plants and animals have been produced using genetic engineering techniques. These organisms have in many cases proven very beneficial in improving the human condition.

Sincerely,

Paul Buckley

Paul Buckley, Ph.D.
Research Scientist and Director of the Biotechnology Center
University of South Dakota-Pierre