Bad Biotech Publicity
Bad Biotech Publicity: One reason why GMO sometimes gets a bad rep
Although Bt corn is becoming an “old timer” in the GMO realm, it is also a great example of how GMO get a bad rep.
Like anything else, the reputation of biotechnology is ruined by inaccurate reporting, and even worse: accurate reporting of “mal practise”.
One incident happened with “StarLink”, a variety of Bt corn patented by Aventis Crop Sciences intended to be used only in animal feed. This variety of GMO corn had a Bt protein version that breaks down more slowly than the variety approved for human consumption, which could lead to some allergic reactions to the Bt protein. The problem was that concentrations of this variety of Bt toxin was found in corn products produced for human consumption. Needless to say, this was a disaster for Aventis and the entire biotechnology industry, particularly with GMOs already being a touchy topic with the public.
