A coalition of consumer and environmental groups called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Thursday to prohibit a new generation of genetically engineered crops that they say threatens to contaminate the nation's food supply.

The coalition asked the department to halt outdoor cultivation of crops engineered to produce prescription drugs or industrial chemicals. Field trials of hundreds of so-called "biopharm" crops have so far been conducted in at least 12 states, and several firms are now gearing up for commercial production of crop-based chemicals. "One mistake by a biotech company, and we'll be eating other people's prescription drugs in our corn flakes," said Larry Bohlen, director of health programs at Friends of the Earth, one of which is backing the Genetically Engineered Food Alert Coalition.

The group says the federal government inadequately regulates food crops engineered to produce pharmaceutical and industrial chemicals.

As neither foods nor drugs nor pesticides, biopharm crops fall into a gray area in the federal regulatory system --- a policy void that looms as the next major battleground between supporters and critics of genetically modified crops.

Supporters of biopharming say that genetically engineered plants, especially corn, could be efficient producers of a host of important products --- such as industrial chemicals, antibodies for the treatment of herpes and influenza, growth hormones, blood clotting agents, and even contraceptives.

Critics say the risks outweigh the benefits. Earlier this year, a committee of the National Academy of Sciences warned that "crops transformed to produce pharmaceutical or industrial compounds might mate with plantations grown for human consumption," and introduce novel chemicals into the food supply. The academy panel also concluded that the USDA came up short in its oversight of such crops.

Three years ago, for instance, U.S. food companies were forced to issue a massive recall of corn chips, tortillas and other corn products when it was discovered that an errant, potentially allergenic protein from genetically engineered corn --- a strain not approved for human consumption --- had contaminated corn throughout the Midwest. Starlink brand corn was eventually taken off the market, but traces of it continue to appear in grain elevators around the country.

Australian researchers added to concerns about errant genes last month when they reported that pollen from a genetically engineered strain of canola had spread to fields of conventional canola up to 2 miles away.

The USDA currently requires growers of biopharm crops to maintain a buffer of a quarter of a mile between their crops and neighboring fields. Although the precise locations of the test crops are not disclosed for security reasons, the majority of the plantings have so far occurred in Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.

"The industry has pretty much had its way with these regulations so far," says Matt Rand, a biotechnology specialist at the National Environmental Trust. He says in the absence of stricter controls the agency should prohibit the open-air planting of all food crops that have been genetically modified to produce drugs and chemicals.

** NOTICE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed for research and educational purposes only. **