GM food: Royal Society attacks 'bad science'
This is London
February 23, 1999
by Mark Nicol and Peter Gruner
The Royal Society, one of the world's most distinguished
scientific bodies, today attacked "bad science" being used in
the row over genetically modified foods.
Nineteen of its most eminent
members, including Nobel
Laureate Dr Max Perutz and
Astronomer Royal, Prof Sir
Martin Rees, have spoken out
against claims made by environmentalists and warned the
Government and the public not to accept them at "face
value".
In a letter to a newspaper today, the group said: "Alleged
scientific results that have not first been thoroughly
scrutinised and exposed to the scientific community serve
only to mislead with potentially damaging consequences."
The Royal Society reacted angrily last week to news that its
report, urging ministers to tighten regulations and analyse
the long-term impact of GM crops, has been ignored by the
Government for the last five months.
The letter continued: "It is a dangerous mistake ... to
assume that all statements claiming to be scientific can be
taken at face value.
"Good science is work that stood up to detailed scrutiny by
independent workers in the field and contributes to new
knowledge and understanding."
The GM foods controversy was sparked when research
into genetically modified potatoes by Dr Arpad Pusztai, a
scientist based at the Rowett Research Institute in
Aberdeen, was used by environmentalists.
Dr Pusztai, who found that eating GM potatoes stunted the
growth of rats, was subsequently forced out of his job and
gagged.
A spokesman for the Royal Society added: "We feel the
findings were published irresponsibly without a great factual
basis to back them up."
* The majority of farmers questioned in a survey released
today expressed fears about genetically modified crops.
The questionnaire was completed by 220 delegates
following a conference partly sponsored by the world's
leading GM supplier Monsanto.
The farmers also expressed fears about multi-nationals
having too much power, inadequate research, and the threat
to the countryside by accidental unleashing of GM plants.
© Associated Newspapers Ltd., 23 February 1999
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