Slater, Iowa, Jan. 11 (Bloomberg) -- Pollen from Aventis SA's StarLink genetically altered corn probably drifted over a field where a conventional hybrid produced by Garst Seed Co. was growing, said the company's president.

Contamination of other corn with StarLink led to a U.S. food recall. Slater, Iowa-based Garst is still testing the corn in which it discovered in November a protein also found in StarLink, said David Witherspoon. Garst will report its findings to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which oversees genetically engineered crops.

Pollen drift has been a major concern among farmers, opponents of genetically engineered crops and even the companies that produce the bioengineered seeds. Traces of Aventis SA's StarLink were found in food last fall, leading to a recall of more than 300 products in the U.S. StarLink may cause allergic reactions in humans.

"The amounts are so, so small, it would be indicative of contamination from pollen," Witherspoon said.

Corn is a self-pollinating plant, so it's conceivable that a farmer's genetically corn pollen could float into a neighboring cornfield. Witherspoon said he wasn't certain how the pollen drifted into a field that was producing his firm's conventional corn. A final determination should be made in coming weeks.

Garst, which is owned by Advanta BV of the Netherlands, found the StarLink protein after an Iowa farmer complained to the company. Advanta is a joint venture of drugmaker AstraZeneca Plc and Netherland-based Cooperative Cosum.

StarLink, genetically engineered to produce a natural pesticide, was approved in the U.S. for use in animal feed and for industrial uses, such as ethanol production. Aventis has stopped selling the corn and StarLink is not approved for sale outside the U.S.

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