GE corn StarLink was found in 99% of the quarantined farm goods imported into South Korea during 2000, according to a report published by the Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA).

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more


Developed by Aventis CropScience and grown in the US, the corn has not been approved for human consumption because of concerns over a potential allergic reaction in consumers. Authorities in the US and around the world have spent much energy however recalling and quarantining products containing the corn, which had been distributed or imported illegally.


According to the KFDA report, a total of 0.59% of imported agriculture products were quarantined last year and the first StarLink related recall was ordered over 14,528kg of tortillas last November. 93% of the banned imports came from the US, while China sent 2,051 tons, Vietnam 481 tons, Thailand 91 tons and Italy 53 tons.


Korean importers have now launched a court battle against Aventis for compensation, hoping to recover some of the huge losses incurred through unwittingly importing StarLink.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Just Food Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Food Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Winning five categories in the 2025 Just Food Excellence Awards, Centric Software is setting the pace for digital transformation in food and FMCG. Explore how its integrated PLM and PXM suite delivers faster launches, smarter compliance and data-driven growth for complex, multi-channel product portfolios.

Discover the Impact