Putting GM food to the test

Madam, – Considering Trevor Sargent’s scare mongering on genetically modified (GM) food (Home News, September 21st) may I suggest…

Madam, – Considering Trevor Sargent’s scare mongering on genetically modified (GM) food (Home News, September 21st) may I suggest he be immediately reinstated as minister of state with responsibility for food to ensure his access to high- quality independent scientific advice? The article and Mr Sargent’s comments are based on a flawed report co-authored by the founder of Genetic ID, a private US company that tests for the presence of GM products.

Surely if health dangers to GM food or feed exist, Mr Sargent has a responsibility to have these products immediately withdrawn as opposed to advocating a new labelling system (which conveniently for some will require GM testing).

However, the reality is that the World Health Organisation, UK Royal Society, the British Medical Association, the European Food Safety Authority, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, the US National Academy of Sciences, Third World Academy of Sciences and many more agree that approved GM food/feed is as safe as non-GM. This is why the Greens in Government have never introduced their pre-election promise to “prohibit the use of GM ingredients in animal feed”.

The reduction in science literacy in Ireland is oft cited as a concern. One feared outcome is the negative impact on evidence-based decision-making by policy-makers. It seems Mr Sargent has already reached this low point, albeit with help from commercial interests. – Yours, etc,

SHANE MORRIS,

Research Fellow,

Department of Botany and Plant Science,

National University of Ireland,

Galway.