The Fight for Genuine Food in Ireland Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit The Belfast Telegraph Food writer calls for 'GM-free' Ireland The Government needs to listen carefully to what people are saying about GM food, particularly at this time of elections, and respond to their concerns by declaring Ireland "GM free", according to the cook and food writer, Darina Allen. At a seminar on GM food in Dublin hosted by Green MEP Ms Nuala Ahern, Ms Allen said that with each revelation of detrimental effects from gene technology, demand for organic produce was "sky-rocketing". This represented an opportunity for Ireland to deliver on its green image, especially as some in France and Germany were questioning if we were in fact providing as promised in terms of being green. Clean, high-quality food with absolute traceability was essential to "Ireland - the food island". "Ireland the GM-free island" might not have the same ring to it but it reinforced the image of a "clean, green and unpolluted environment", said Ms Allen, who farms organically. She disagreed with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland view that GM foods were safe, despite serving on its board up to last year. "In reality, there's no way, whether you are for or against, of knowing what the long-term effects are on mammals and humans. They should not be on our shelves. GM foods are being forced on us before we are sure." Ms Ahern claimed the Government was hiding behind a flimsy excuse that a moratorium was impossible on GM food development because of EU legislation. Yet Austria and Luxembourg had applied bans. The Minister for the Environment should do likewise, given the extent of genuine concern among Irish consumers. Seeking the right to have GM research published By Dick Ahlstrom, Science Editor A scientist who was sacked after making claims about risks associated with genetically modified foods believes his research was suppressed because of political pressure. He is preparing legal action to win the right to submit his work for review and publication which, he says, could help to prove modified foods pose a risk and may be dangerous to humans and the environment. Dr Arpad Pusztai was dismissed from the Rowett Research Institute in Edinburgh after his appearance on an ITN World in Action report last August. During the programme he said people who ate modified foods were like "unwitting guinea pigs in a mass experiment". Dr Pusztai, who last night delivered the inaugural lecture of UCD's Biochemical Society, said he remained convinced of the quality of his original research. which suggested that rats fed with genetically modified potatoes had stunted growth, damaged organs and a weakened immune system. "I very much hope that I am wrong because if I am not, we are facing some real problems," he told The Irish Times. Before these experiments, he had no particular worries about GM foods or crops, he said. He had worked as a scientist at the Rowett for 36 years, published 276 scientific papers and written three books. "I am not an alarmist," he said. It would have been logical to continue with his line of research to determine what was causing the changes seen in the laboratory animals. "I believe there was tremendous political pressure to stop it, just in case there were more nasties to crawl out of the woodwork." Since his formal dismissal last January, Dr Pusztai has been precluded from publishing his findings without authorisation from the Rowett, although he is permitted to speak about his work. He believes this prevents his work from being properly analysed. The "lack of transparency" served those who did not want questions raised about GM foods, he said. "I think the British have a culture of secrecy - if in doubt, you deny." He was completely happy about the quality of his data. "I stand by them, there is not the slightest suspicion in my mind that they are incorrect." No concerns had been expressed about the research when the initial application was made for funding. "We won it in a fair competition. They can't turn around and say it was a flawed proposal." The Scottish Office agreed to back the work with =A31.6 million. Within three days of the documentary, however, Dr Pusz tai had been suspended. The feeding studies conducted for GM foods so far have been inadequate, he said. "I am not sure on the basis of the data I have seen that GM soya is safe at all. It is unacceptable. Why is it that when it comes to pig rations you have intensive tests and then when it comes to GM potatoes you are being accused of stopping progress?" In his UCD lecture, Dr Pusztai spoke against GM foods and described his work. A counter-argument in defence of GM techno logy was given by Prof David Mc Connell, head of the Department of Genetics at Trinity College. source - Eric Hayes Patkowski ehp@irsm.org P.O. Box 151805, Austin, Texas 78715-1805 http://irsm.org/ (Pairt=ED Poblachtach S=F3isialach na h-=C9ireann) http://www14.pair.com/jcs/ (James Connolly Society) Co-Editor, Working Stiff Journal ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytire-05.30.99-10:57:59-9984