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Kraft CEO Says Stronger Regulation
Of Biotech Needed |
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Betsy Holden, chief executive officer of Kraft Foods North America, told the USDA Agriculture Outlook Forum Thursday evening that the government should strengthen its regulatory systems over biotechnology. Recalling the cases in which StarLink corn, which had been approved only for animal consumption, was found in food, and pharmaceutical crops were found in the general food supply, Holden said: "Right now public acceptance of biotechnology is high. How many times can we test the public before we lose it?" Holden said Kraft, the largest food company in the United States and the second largest in the world, would like "traceback to the farm" to prove the safety of food. Holden said she does not oppose using the same crops for foods and for medicine. When asked if a "tolerance level" should be allowed for pharmaceuticals found in crops intended for human consumption, Holden said she was not the proper person to ask because she is not a regulator. But she noted that a trace amount of an allergen "could be extremely deadly." Asked for her views about the United States taking a biotech case against the European Union to the World Trade Organization, Holden said, "We can go to the WTO," but that taking the case would do no good if companies do not convince consumers that the foods are safe. Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for Agriculture Secretary Veneman today said that Veneman's Thursday statement that she and Trade Representative Zoellick believe the administration should take "strong action" against the European Union on the biotech issue is the administration's policy. That came despite a British Broadcasting Corp. report that Peter Kurz, minister-counselor for agriculture at the U.S. embassy in London, said the United States has decided not to file a case against the European Union. Veneman's spokeswoman described Kurz as "a low-level person from London." There have been several reports that anonymous senior administration officials in Washington and Brussels have said the United States has decided not to file the case, but Kurz is the first official to go on record. Kurz said the decision "was made at a high level of government. I suppose the idea was we don't need further trade irritants." Kurz said diplomatic negotiations would be pursued, but that if they do not work out the United States might still file the case.
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