BASF Rice Seed Contamination To Add To US Biotech Inquiry

The discovery of genetically modified material by the BASF Corp. (BF) in rice seeds will add a new level to the U.S. government's ongoing investigation of how unapproved biotech traits have made it into commerce channels.

BASF announced finding the contamination of its non-biotech Clearfield CL131 long-grain rice seeds Monday and said it will work with the USDA to rid all of it from the marketplace.

Company tests, which the USDA is working to confirm this week, show that the unwanted biotech material was derived from the Bayer AG (BAY) Liberty Link line of products, but not one of the three Liberty Link varieties approved for human consumption - LL601, LL62 and LL06 - DeHaven said.