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20.08.2006 | permalink

GM rice from Bayer contaminates US rice supply

The US Agricultural Department announced that an unapproved rice variety "LL 601" genetically engineered by Bayer Crop Science has contaminated US rice stocks. Japan has cut off rice imports from the US. US rice exports are around 1 billion US $ annually. Other nations are expected to follow. How the GM rice, which has been dropped in 2001, has reached the supply chain is still unknown. Bayer announced as a reaction that it would now seek approval for the GM rice as safe food. Bayer had informed USDA already July 31st. But the ministry and the company withheld the informationform the public until August 18th.
Washington Post: U.S. Rice Supply Contaminated
Food Navigator: GM rice contaminates US food supply
CBS: Japan closes market for US long corn rice
USDA press release: Genetically engineered rice
EU Commission: Trace amounts of non-authorised GM rice on US market
FoE Press Release: EU urged to ban North American rice
GMWatch: Background on testing practices and significance of the case