Food writer challenges Government to justify endorsement of GM foods

Food writer and top chef Darina Allen has challenged the Government to provide proof justifying its strong endorsement of GM foods, following the findings of an independent panel.

Ms Allen, who is prominent in the international movement against GM food, claimed many of the panel's findings "defy belief". They were published at the weekend after a national consultation process.

Its conclusions, she claimed, failed to reflect the extent of concern about GM foods, even among a significant number of scientists, and ran contrary to a large body of Irish public opinion. The panel concluded genetic modification was not "likely to conflict with the ethics of the vast majority of the population".

The report, which was produced for the Minister for the Environment, made sweeping conclusions, she claimed - notably, that there was no significant risk to health or the environment. There was worrying evidence of cross-pollination, for instance, which meant GM strains were fertilising with non-GM plants, and GM pollen was spreading large distances.

Such a strong pro-GM line from Government contrasted with Britain, she noted, where public opinion was almost totally against GM foods. There were indications that the biotech industry would now push the technology harder in Ireland. "There is a view that it will be a pushover here compared to the UK. This report will make this even easier."

Its conclusions had a similar tone to the line that millions of Americans were eating GM foods for years with no ill-effects. "How can there be any evidence of damage when most of those people don't know they're eating GM foods? How can they prove it when no epidemiological studies are carried out on humans?"

Ms Allen wished to "challenge the Government and pro-GM scientists to tell us why they can be so sure there are no long-term effects". GM foods were being allowed on the market after as little as 12 weeks' evaluation and were grown with few controls, she claimed. Yet a small food producer could not put a pot of jam on a shop shelf without detailed labelling and adhering to a multitude of regulations, she said.

The Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, said if Ireland operated a policy of transparency and scientific assessment with regard to GMOs, "there should be no risk to health or the environment". The Government would not support any new authorisations of GM crops until EU directive 90220 was reformed, but restricting current field trials would prevent the kind of research needed to evaluate fully GM crops.

Mr Matt Moran, director of the Irish Bioindustry Association, said it would facilitate the development of biotechnology in Ireland but "put the safety of the consumer first". A spokesman for Monsanto, which is carrying out trials in Ireland, underlined the thoroughness of the process, and acceptance of biotechnology's potential.

The director of BioResearch Ireland, Dr Jim Ryan, said: "It's a very balanced report that takes full account of the need for precaution, yet allows us to proceed; to apply biotech where we need it."

Genetic Concern questioned the value of consultation when "one arm twist, one phone call" after lobbying by the US government had swung the Irish vote at EU level for a GM crop.

In any event, the report was largely overtaken by events and had become irrelevant due to new restrictions at EU level, said its spokeswoman, Ms Sadhbh O'Neill.

MEP Ms Dana Rosemary Scallon described the expert report and Mr Dempsey's response as being "factually flawed". "Ireland should be leading the way instead of dancing to the tune of the multinational companies and their political backers in the US government".