About 300 varieties of taco shells, tortillas and snack chips made by the Irving, Tex.-based company were affected by the Oct. 13 recall, according to a list released by the Food and Drug Administration. The list includes tortillas and chips sold through such restaurants as Applebee's and Wendy's, and taco shells carrying the private labels of a number of supermarket chains, including Safeway, Food Lion, Kroger, IGA, Albertson's and Wal-Mart. The products contain a genetically engineered corn, known as StarLink, which hasn't been approved for human consumption because of questions about its potential to cause allergic reactions.
Federal officials say there is little, if any, health risk from the corn.
News of the recall also has affected sales of taco shells that aren't included in the recall. Stores in some areas have been forced to cut prices in order to sell the taco shells before their expiration dates, said Gene Grabowski, a spokesman for the Grocery Manufacturers of America. We have not heard that it is widespread across the country, but only in certain markets . Mission Foods estimates that its recall involves 5 million to 6 million pounds. The recall was issued after taco shells containing StarLink corn were found in a Washington-area Safeway.