Azteca Milling announced that it is voluntarily recalling yellow corn flour from the marketplace because it could possibly contain StarLink, a protein not approved for human consumption. The company announced that it would mill white corn only.
“Because StarLink is a yellow corn, and we believe that we need to assure our customers and the public that products made with our flour are safe, the surest way to bolster confidence is to make products with only white corn,” explained Azteca Milling’s President, Dan Lynn. He noted that Azteca Milling had spent over $1 million on testing since September 18, and had implemented state-of-the-art tests. However, there is not an official government method to detect StarLink at a level the government will validate as safe, as it does for many other possible contaminants. Lynn added that although there is no indication that yellow corn flour wasn’t safe, he said, “Azteca must act on behalf of American customers who use products made of corn flour. We have the highest quality products, and people depend on us.”
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The company noted that the test results were not consistent, nor conclusive, although they did appear to confirm the yellow corn with the StarLink protein had been isolated in corn milled in Plainview, Texas. However, the company said their actions covered all yellow corn. The company announced that it would replace customers’ stocks with white corn flour and would work with each individual customer to meet their needs.
“We began immediately to take prudent steps to protect the customers and the food supply of yellow corn flour,” said Lynn. Lynn said the company placed all yellow corn flour shipments on hold.
When news of the presence of the StarLink protein in taco shells was made public, Azteca Milling contacted Aventis, the biotech company, which developed “StarLink,” the variety in question. The result was that Aventis took the unprecedented step of providing a test, which allowed yellow corn to be tested as it arrived at the plant. Even so, the company has decided that it is in the best interests of consumers to move to white corn only.
Azteca Milling buys corn from approved farmers who agree to grow corn from a list of approved varieties, all of which are free of genetic modifications. Azteca Milling maintains extensive records, and requires its farmers to keep receipts from seed purchased to ensure the integrity of its process and materials. Azteca Milling has pledged to cooperate fully with the Food and Drug Administration to determine how StarLink came to be present in yellow corn flour.
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By GlobalDataAzteca Milling is a limited partnership between Gruma Corporation and Archer Daniels Midland. Located in Irving, Texas, the company is the nation’s leading miller of white and yellow corn masa flour, approximately 25% of which is yellow corn and has been recognized by industry and customers for its quality programs.
Individuals with questions about the products can find information on the company’s website, www.aztecamilling.com or call 1-800-4-maseca (1-800-462-7322.)
