ORGANIC FOR SAFETY

Sir, I find it utter nonsense when Labour TD Pat Upton suggests to the public that it is not possible to have a diet which contains…

Sir, I find it utter nonsense when Labour TD Pat Upton suggests to the public that it is not possible to have a diet which contains no risk to human health.

The risk, nowadays associated with food, is the result of intensive farming methods followed by, a no limits food industry.

May I point out that BSE was not caused by organic farmers. They are not permitted to feed? meat meal to ruminants or use organo phosphorus components against warble fly. They are not using pesticides in the food chain, no radiation of food, no genetic engineering. The only risk from organic food is that you might eat too much.

In contrast to his call for more science may I just call for more common sense. Science has given us highly questionable food technologies (e.g. treating cheese with antibiotics to prevent mould), and has certainly not resulted in safe food. Yours, etc., Cahir, Co Tipperary.