World Food Programme (WFP) food aid shipments, predominantly from the United States, have been found to be heavily contaminated with Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), including Starlink, a genetically engineered (GE) variety of corn banned for human consumption worldwide. Starlink corn, which is gene-spliced with an insecticidal protein, was registered for animal feed use in the U.S. in 1998, despite protests from scientists that it would inevitably contaminate human food supplies. As predicted, in 2000 Starlink contaminated a full 10% of the U.S. corn harvest, prompting complaints from hundreds of U.S. consumers who suffered allergic reactions after eating Starlink-tainted corn taco shells and other products. Recent tests have found 80% of food aid corn sent to Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala contains GMOs which are prohibited in these countries. Julio Sánchez from Centro Humboldt in Nicaragua said it's outrageous that the WFP would purchase GE corn from the U.S. that is not fit for human consumption, jeopardizing the health of vulnerable populations like pregnant women and children, while contaminating indigenous corn fields and seed banks. Sanchez added that there are massive amounts of surplus non-GE corn produced by nations other than the U.S. that should be used for food aid instead.

http://www.organicconsumers.org/ge/caribbean21705.cfm