A nationwide recall of taco shells and other corn products because they contain an unapproved variety of biotech grain has reached stores and restaurants across the country, including Wal-Mart and Wendy's. About 300 varieties of taco shells, tortillas and snack chips made by Mission were affected by the Oct. 13 recall, according to a list released by the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA's list includes tortillas and chips sold through such restaurants as Applebee's and Wendy's, and taco shells carrying 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 variety of corn, known as StarLink, that 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.
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 Safeway store in the Washington, D.C., area. Mission officials said they decided to recall their products that contain yellow corn and switch to white corn. The developer of the corn, Aventis CropScience, has asked the Environmental Protection Agency to temporarily approve the grain for food use so that no more recalls are necessary. The company says there is virtually no chance that anyone could be harmed.