Farmers want to block sale of corn, fear toxic mold

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Farmers want to block sale of corn, fear toxic mold

Wednesday, 10/09/02

Washington (AP) - Midwestern farmers and environmental groups are asking

Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman to block a biotech corn containing a toxic

mold.

That's because they fear it could contaminate the food supply.

They want the corn kept off the market until tests can determine whether it

caused some hogs and cattle in Midwestern states to become infertile.

Agriculture Department researchers suspected some Iowa cattle and hogs

became sterile after eating the potentially moldy corn.

An environmental group - Friends of the Earth - has sent letters to Veneman

asking that the corn be blocked.

A spokesman for that group says most farmers in Minnesota, Michigan and Iowa

who had problems with the corn made by Garst Seed don't want to discuss it

publicly.

Garst Seed is based in Slater in central Iowa.

FDA officials say they're looking into the matter.

Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press.