Can Postmarketing Surveillance Provide Useful Information about the Allergenicity of Genetically Modified Foods?
C. Rubin outlined the situation with respect to postmarket surveillance for allergy to genetically modified foods. When a person manifesting signs or symptoms (e.g., hives, facial swelling, difficulty breathing) consistent with acute allergic reaction to a food product seeks medical care, the treatment is usually symptomatic, the episode is often isolated, and the potential allergen is seldom identified. The number of such medical visits is not tabulated. Even repeat visits for allergic reactions to well-known allergens such as peanuts or milk are not counted as part of any established surveillance system. Thus, in October 2000, when StarLink corn intended only for animal consumption was identified in products on grocery-store shelves, there was no way to easily determine if consumption of this genetically engineered protein was resulting in allergic reactions in humans (Bucchini and Goldman 2002). In a coordinated effort to determine if StarLink corn was indeed responsible for adverse
