No future for GMO corn in Japan
In Japan, most corn processors have used only non-GMO crops to produce corn starch and corn syrup, used as a sweetener, as most customers, mainly beer and drug makers, refuse to use GMOs. Risa Maeda at Reuters notes that beer makers so far are resisting price hikes in corn starch, an important ingredient for beer, or a shift to GMO.
"Lack of public acceptance means we don't consider it," said a spokesman at Kirin Holdings, which seven years ago led its peers to use only non-GMO corn starch for Japanese beer.
Kirin notes genetically modified foods, allergic foods, food additives, chemical residues in food, endocrine disrupters, beef (BSE), irradiation, and mycotoxins as items with "high customer interest" in its 2007 CSR Report (pdf), prompting the company to create special quality guidelines to deal with these difficult problems. Also, the introduction of IP handling, HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) and ISO9001 certification by food manufacturing facilities have enhanced the transparency of Japanese food companies' quality assurance structure. Clearly, the pressure is on U.S. farmers to supply non-GMO corn.
Reuters: More Pressure on Japan to Accept U.S. Genetically Engineered Corn
(Photo: Poster for Kirin non-GMO beer from Gaijin Tonic)
"Lack of public acceptance means we don't consider it," said a spokesman at Kirin Holdings, which seven years ago led its peers to use only non-GMO corn starch for Japanese beer.
Kirin notes genetically modified foods, allergic foods, food additives, chemical residues in food, endocrine disrupters, beef (BSE), irradiation, and mycotoxins as items with "high customer interest" in its 2007 CSR Report (pdf), prompting the company to create special quality guidelines to deal with these difficult problems. Also, the introduction of IP handling, HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) and ISO9001 certification by food manufacturing facilities have enhanced the transparency of Japanese food companies' quality assurance structure. Clearly, the pressure is on U.S. farmers to supply non-GMO corn.
Reuters: More Pressure on Japan to Accept U.S. Genetically Engineered Corn
(Photo: Poster for Kirin non-GMO beer from Gaijin Tonic)
Comments
and you can keep the beach and the beer.