Genetically Engineered Foods Archives

More on frankenfoods and "our" government. Archive in GEF.

Sigh... Yet another example of big business's questionable
objectivity, honesty and integrity...
Just more proof that we need to think and question for ourselves!
Other comments?
Misty L. Trepke
http://www.searching-alternatives.com

GM Inquiry Exposed As Top Scientist Quits
By Sean Poulter
The Daily Mail - UK
7-24-3

A key member of the Government's GM Science Review has dramatically
quit. Dr Carlo Leifert, professor of ecological agriculture at the
University of Newcastle, resigned amid claims that the panel was
hijacked by biotech supporters.

It is dominated by scientists either employed by biotech giants such
as Monsanto and Syngenta or dependent on them for goodwill or funds.

An insider said Dr Leifert was frustrated by the pro-GM bias and
quit after an executive of a biotech giant was asked to draw up the
panel's conclusions.

Dr Andrew Cockburn, a director of Monsanto, was asked to write the
first draft of the report. The GM Science Review was set up by Tony
Blair to tell the British public whether or not biotech crops and
food were safe.

It is chaired by Mr Blair's scientific adviser, Professor David
King. But there are concerns that its conclusions, to be published
today, cannot be trusted.

The insider said: "The panel refused to critically evaluate what the
problems with GM might be. Whenever issues arose, they were brushed
aside. The pro-GM people would get up and say those who make these
criticisms are not proper scientists.

"Carlo was put under an awful lot of pressure for pointing out gaps
in the GM food and crop safety approvals process - for example,
failure to check for certain types of allergens.

"Whenever the information being examined appeared critical of GM, it
was just rubbished. When the man from Monsanto was chosen to write
the first science panel draft, that was too much for Carlo."

Dr Leifert, head of the Tesco Centre for Agriculture, has refused to
discuss his resignation.

But the insider said: "The panel had made up its mind before it sat
down. They were trying to find reasons to say to the public, 'You
don't need to be worried about GM'. When Carlo realised that, he
decided it was impossible to put his name to its report."

The revelations are highly embarrassing for the Government. The
source said the problem was that the scientists who understand GM
are too close to the biotech companies who fund research.

"Too many molecular biologists depend directly on biotech companies
for their funding or goodwill. Consequently, it is very difficult
for those scientists who really understand the issues to be
critical.

"Carlo complained about biotech companies being on the science panel
because of the risk they would intimidate the others. They have
dominated the panel."

As well as Dr Cockburn, the panel included Dr Simon Bright, head of
European genomics at Syngenta. Other GM enthusiasts included
Professor Chris Leaver, head of plant sciences at Oxford University,
Dr Mike Gale and Professor Philip Dale, both of the John Innes
Research Centre in Norwich, and Professor Mike Gasson, of the
Institute of Food Research in > Norwich.

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