No Starlink Corn Products Found In NZ

No Starlink Corn Products Found In NZ At This Stage

Information to date suggests that no products so far identified by US authorities as containing genetically modified Starlink corn, which is not approved for human consumption, are available in New Zealand.

Starlink corn is currently only approved for use in animal feed in the United States.

Ministry of Health Food Manager, Jim Sim, said a list of nearly 300 products being recalled from the USA, has been cross checked with information from New Zealand Customs which identifies 60 importers which have brought USA food products into the country during the past 12 months.

"Information to date suggests that none of the recalled food products are available in New Zealand. In addition, we are contacting the importers seeking their assurances that their food products do not contain Starlink corn. We have asked the importers to delay further distribution of the food products, until they can confirm this."

Mr Sim said a number of these importers had already confirmed that their products are free of Starlink corn.

Investigations will continue, until the Ministry is satisfied that no products containing Starlink corn are available in New Zealand.

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For more information contact: Selina Gentry, Media Advisor, ph: 04-496-2483 or 025-277-5411 Internet address: http://www.moh.govt.nz/media.html

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