The head of the research institute which terminated the contract of a scientist who raised concerns over genetically modified food, last night backed his calls for a new, tougher, safety regime for the products.
Prof Philip James, head of the Rowett Research Institute, told a committee of MPs "more effective and accurate screening methods" were needed to monitor "the unexpected consequences" of genetic modification.
Prof James' criticisms of the current system for testing so-called Frankenstein foods echo calls made by Dr Arpad Pusztai, whose contract with the institute was terminated last summer after he appeared on an ITV World in Action programme which raised concerns about GM food.
In written evidence to the Science and Technology Select Committee, Prof James attacked US food safety standards, saying "more stringent testing systems are needed than those which appear to be acceptable in the US".
He also criticised the World Trade Organisation - which would rule on any British or European attempt to restrict imports of American GM foods - as treating public health as of "little import".
Dr Pusztai told the MPs there was a "compelling case" for an "over-arching body to advise on and oversee genetically modified food".
He said government advisory committees on new scientific developments were likely to be "severely tested" in verifying GM safety as more and more foods were brought to market. They were also very limited in commissioning their own research, meaning their judgements were "mainly based on information received from the companies" developing the foods.
The number of genetically modified animals produced and bred in the UK for scientific experiments totalled more than 350,000 in the latest figures available, the British government disclosed last night. The junior Home Office minister, Lord Williams, said in a House of Lords written reply 355,396 GM animals were reared in the UK in 1997, including 5,000 imported, and were used for "scientific procedures".