Belgian colza fields contaminated with banned GMOs

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2008

BRUSSELS (AFP) — Fifteen Belgian colza fields, owned by Bayer CropScience, have been contaminated by genetically modified organisms (GMOs) banned in Europe, the country's public health ministry announced Tuesday.

The Bayer subsidiary, which specialises in improving crop yields, informed the Belgian authorities of the contamination, which happened last month during the planting of normal colza -- a crop similar to rapeseed and used in cattlefeed, cooking oil, machinery lubricant and, increasingly, as a biofuel.

"The conventional seed lot was contaminated by five percent GMO colza," the statement said.

A preliminary investigation carried out by the multinational put the problem down to "human error."

Bayer "has taken measures to prevent the spread of...