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To: Dan Spillane who wrote (2087)	5/27/1999 8:02:00 AM
From: Anthony Wong	Respond to of 2539

Farming industry rocked by Internet May 26, 1999 cnn.com

To: Dan Spillane who wrote (2087)	5/27/1999 8:19:00 AM
From: Anthony Wong	Respond to of 2539

ITN exclusive: doubts cast over GM food advice May 26, 1999 New Guidelines for labelling genetically modified food are about to be issued by the Government, but there are already doubts about the extent to which consumers should trust the labels, writes ITN's Chris Choi. Scientists have told ITN that tests for GM ingredients may not be accurate, and that some retailers do not label products which contain small amounts of GM ingredients. Many shoppers avoid genetically modified ingredients. On Wednesday fears surfaced that some foods regarded as free from GM may not be entirely so. This was the background for a confidential meeting. Up for discussion, worrying inconsistancies threatening to undermine Britain's new food laws. Helen Parkes, from the laboratory of the Government Chemist, said: "We did an experiment using Beanfeast which we know contains GM ingredients. But one test shows we have GM and the other not. Except we knew it was the same sample." Trading Standards officers had similar confusing results. Not all GM tests can be believed. ITN asked Ms Parkes if it was possible for a lab to say something was GM free when it wasn't? "In certain circumstances and with some products it might be," she replied. Soya is now pouring into the UK to be used in thousands of convenience meals. It is from the USA where genetic modification is common. Despite tests, key suppliers say there is no certainty non-GM soya is precisely that. Richard Brown, from Protein Technologies, told ITN: " The concept of absolute certainty is difficult. I think if you take car tyres you can never be absolutely certain that they won't blow out. But I don't think anybody would say car tyres are not safe." There may be traces of genetically modified ingredients accidentally mixed into food shoppers think is GM free. Supermarkets tolerate different levels of GM material in an ingredient before foods have to be labelled as genetically modified. Sainsbury's labels food with more than 3 per cent GM material in an ingredient. Asda say the level is 0.5 per cent. And Iceland accepts only 0.1 per cent before it drops a products for having GM content. The minister on Wednesday lined up to clash with suppliers. He accepted concerns about testing. On Thursday he will issue new guidelines and he is taking a hard line. Jeff Rooker, Food Safety Minister, told ITN: " If there's GM material in a product its got to be labelled that it is absolutely clear its the ingredients that people eat that at any level have to be labelled." People's trust in food labels is vital. But that is jeopardised if gaps remain in the ways genetic modification is measured in the food we eat. itn.co.uk:80/Britain/brit19990526/052612.htm