http://www.fwi.co.uk/article.asp?con=10826&sec=2&hier=66

Arable news

Minister's GM evidence 'flawed'
Source: FWi 24 June 2003

By Farmers Weekly staff

ENVIRONMENT minister Elliot Morley has been accused of using flawed evidence
to convince the public that eating genetically modified food is safe.

The minister reportedly said two studies by the Food and Agriculture
Organisation and the International Council for Science demonstrated the
safety of GM foods.

But the Daily Mail says that both studies turned out to be academic and
theoretical reviews of old material.

The paper reports: "It later emerged that neither [study] had involved the
sort of human and animal feeding trials that would provide such evidence.

"Mr Morley's comments were condemned by GM critics as being part of Downing
Street's campaign of spin and subterfuge."

The paper reports the story as part of its GM campaign called Frankenstein
Food Watch.

It adds: "Last year a University of Newcastle report found that eating just
one GM meal can change the bacteria in the gut.

"However, the work was abandoned by the Food Standards Agency as
'insignificant'."

Mr Morley spoke on BBC Radio Four's Today programme about claims made by his
predecessor, former environment minister Michael Meacher.

Mr Meacher had claimed that the government's Food Standards Agency had tried
to bury results from the only human research carried out.

Asked on Monday (23 June) whether any other human studies had shown GM in a
positive light, Mr Morley said: "There have been very many studies.

"There has never been any indication of the slightest risk to health.

"There have been studies in this country, in France and studies by the Food
and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations.

"In terms of existing products there has never been any indication that
there is a health risk."

The Mail says the FAO study looked only at nutritional values of GM food
versus conventional food, and did not examine health and safety with any
human trials.

The paper adds that work by the Paris-based International Council for
Science involves no new research.

"It concludes GM foods, such as soya, are "safe" because various governments
have said so."