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== Controversy == After Quorn's 2002 debut in the United States, the [[Center for Science in the Public Interest]] (CSPI) disputed the original labeling of Quorn as a "mushroom based" product, since ''[[Fusarium venenatum]]'' is not a [[mushroom]] (rather, it is a [[Microfungi|microfungus]]).<ref name="cspi">{{cite web |title=Quorn meat substitute deceptively labeled, CSPI tells FDA |url=https://www.cspinet.org/quorn/quornpr_022802.html |website=[[Center for Science in the Public Interest]] |date=2002-02-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240724160803/https://www.cspinet.org/quorn/quornpr_022802.html |archive-date=2024-07-24 |url-status=live}}</ref> The sale of Quorn was opposed by the [[American Mushroom Institute]], and rival [[Gardenburger]], which filed complaints with advertising and trading-standards watchdogs in Europe and the US, stating Quorn's 'mushroom based' claim was deceptive.<ref name="cspi" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://cspinet.org/new/quornltr.pdf |title=Re: GRAS Notice No. GRN 000091; ''Food Additive Petition FAP 6A3930'' |first1=Michael F. |last1=Jacobson |first2=Doug |last2=Gurian-Sherman |publisher=CSPI |date=28 February 2002 |access-date=15 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020913131532/http://cspinet.org/new/quornltr.pdf |archive-date=13 September 2002 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref> CSPI claimed that Quorn could cause allergic reactions and should be removed from stores. CSPI claimed in 2003 that it "sickens 4.5% of eaters".<ref name="cspi-sickens">{{cite web | title = 4Β½% of Britons Report Problems After Eating Quorn | publisher = CSPI press release | date = 23 September 2003 | url = http://www.cspinet.org/new/200309231.html | access-date = 20 May 2006 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060602070016/http://www.cspinet.org/new/200309231.html | archive-date = 2 June 2006 | url-status = live | df = dmy-all }}</ref> The manufacturer (Marlow Foods) disputed the figure, claiming that only 0.0007% (1 in 146,000) suffer adverse reactions and that the strain of fungus it uses does not produce toxins.<ref name="cspi-sickens" /> Leslie Bonci, professor of nutrition at the [[University of Pittsburgh]], described CSPI's claims as "overblown".<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.newhope.com/ingredients/quorn-dogged-scientists-call-advocacy-groups-complaints-unfounded|title=Quorn Dogged: Scientists Call Advocacy Group's Complaints Unfounded|date=2008-04-24|website=New Hope Network|access-date=2019-10-25}}</ref> Wendy Preiser, Gardenburger's vice president of marketing, said the company feared that Quorn's labels would cause suspicion about all meat-free products.<ref name="wired">{{cite magazine | title = A Mushrooming Quorn Controversy | magazine = Wired | date = 16 April 2002 | first = Farhad | last = Manjoo | url = https://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2002/04/51842 | access-date = 28 June 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120701200235/http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2002/04/51842 | archive-date = 1 July 2012 | url-status = live | df = dmy-all }}</ref><ref name=":2" /> The UK's [[Advertising Standards Authority (United Kingdom)|Advertising Standards Authority]] was concerned that Marlow's marketing of Quorn as "mushroom in origin" was "misleading consumers". Marlow Foods were asked either to delete the claim or modify it to identify its fungal origin.<ref>{{cite web | title = Annual Report 2002 (PDF, page 5) | publisher = [[Advertising Standards Authority (United Kingdom)|Advertising Standards Authority]] | url = http://www.asa.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/851AD4D1-E5EB-4D1A-AD8D-DB4D284FB836/0/ASA_Annual_Report_2002.pdf | access-date = 20 May 2006 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060406080523/http://www.asa.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/851AD4D1-E5EB-4D1A-AD8D-DB4D284FB836/0/ASA_Annual_Report_2002.pdf <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> | archive-date = 6 April 2006 }}</ref> Quorn formerly used [[battery cage|battery eggs]] in some of its production processes, a practice opposed on ethical grounds by many vegetarians. Working with the Vegetarian Society, which initially did not approve Quorn's products, Marlow began phasing out battery eggs in 2000,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.ivu.org/congress/2004/lectures/tina-fox1.html | title = Selling the Symbol : The Vegetarian Society's Seedling Licence Scheme | publisher = speech to the 36th World Vegetarian Congress in November 2004 | author1 = Tina Fox | author2 = Chief Executive | author3 = Vegetarian Society | access-date = 20 May 2006 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060710154807/http://www.ivu.org/congress/2004/lectures/tina-fox1.html | archive-date = 10 July 2006 | url-status = live | df = dmy-all }}</ref> and by 2004 all of their UK products were free of battery eggs, earning the Vegetarian Society's seal of approval.<ref name="Vegetarian Society" /> An [[Asthma#Signs and symptoms|asthma attack]] in 2003 was linked to Quorn. Tests showed Quorn to be the only food to which the patient had an allergic reaction. A spokesperson for the [[Food Standards Agency]] stated that an allergy was not surprising, due to the high protein content.<ref name="bbc linked to asthma">{{cite news | title = Quorn linked to asthma attack | work = [[BBC News]] | date = 30 May 2003 | location = London | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2949510.stm | access-date = 10 October 2011 | quote = The patient, a 41-year-old man with a long history of asthma, developed a severe skin reaction, including blistering, and suffered an asthma attack an hour after eating Quorn. Scientists carried out skin prick and food reaction tests and laboratory analysis to confirm what had provoked the allergic reaction. [...] On its Web site, the FSA currently states: 'There have been some reports of intolerance to Quorn, but this is not surprising, because it has a high protein content (allergens are usually proteins).{{'-}} | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090301183802/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2949510.stm | archive-date = 1 March 2009 | url-status = live | df = dmy-all }}</ref> Former FSA director Jon Bell responded in defence of Quorn, stating that several commonly consumed foods and food ingredients, such as [[Soybean|soya]], have a much higher intolerance level than Quorn. Adverse reactions were reported for 1 in 146,000 people who ate Quorn, compared to 1 in 35 who ate shellfish and 1 in 350 who ate soya.<ref name="bbc linked to asthma" /><ref name="nutra_ingredients">{{cite web|url=http://www.nutraingredients.com/Regulation/FSA-stands-by-Quorn|title=FSA Stands by Quorn|date=4 September 2002|publisher=Nutra Ingredients|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120602031404/http://www.nutraingredients.com/Regulation/FSA-stands-by-Quorn|archive-date=2 June 2012|access-date=28 June 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
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