Once again: EU detects biotech linseed in food

Brussels / BE. (eu) The United Kingdom found banned genetically modified linseed from Canada in cereal and bakery products, according to a notification to the European Union´s food alert system (Reference 2009.1256). On September 28 company checks found «biotech FP967» linseed, which is not approved for food or feed use in the EU, according to a notification via the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed. The products will be withdrawn from the market. The unauthorized flax was discovered trice in Germany in recent weeks. The country reported on September 08 it had found the modified flax in samples of cereal and bakery products taken in August. On September 11, Germany reported (see Reference 2009.1198) about unauthorised genetically modified linseed (FP967) with raw material from Canada and the United States, dispatched from the Netherlands. Last week the country reported another finding dated September 15 (Reference 2009.1208). The genetically modified flax, known as CDC Triffid, was developed by the University of Saskatchewan. About 70 percent of Canada´s flax is exported to Europe, and any disruption of trade would be «devastating» for sales, four advocacy groups in the country said earlier this month.