StarLink corn, which triggered the recall of more than 300 U.S. food products, has slowed total corn sales to some of the country's biggest customers. The genetically modified grain may cause allergic reactions in some people. Japan, the No. 1 buyer of U.S. corn, has reduced its purchases by 23 percent to 5.669 million metric tons so far in the sales season. Taiwan, the second-biggest buyer, has reduced purchases 7.8 percent through the same period, USDA figures show. Importers are cutting back on purchases from the United States to avoid chances of gene-altered StarLink corn working its way into food.
Buyers can turn to other suppliers, such as Argentina or South Africa.
This whole episode has shaken some people up, both here at home and abroad, but I think these matters will get resolved,'' Glickman said. Earlier this month, the USDA began a testing service for U.S. corn bound for overseas, to guard against biotech corn contaminating conventional cargoes. U.S. exporters sold 146 percent more soybeans last week than a week earlier, the USDA said. Buyers in Europe snapped up soybeans as a ban was being proposed on a competing livestock feed made from animal parts, analysts said.