Public's grasp of GM science 'poor'

Government advisers on genetically modified foods yesterday complained at the public's lack of scientific knowledge, saying it was preventing "balanced" debate on their safety.

Consumers could miss out on the benefits of GM technology if they were not better informed, they said, citing as examples peanuts that did not trigger allergic reactions, coffee without caffeine, and better tasting, longer lasting fruit and vegetables.

Janet Bainbridge, who chairs the advisory committee on novel foods and processes, said GM foods were "as safe, if not safer" than conventional foods. "But there continues to be a great deal of inventive media coverage."

Most people did not realise there had been cross-breeding and genetic changes to food for hundreds of years, Professor Bainbridge, of Teesside university, Middlesbrough, said. But "I am not about to embark on a campaign. At the end of the day it does not matter to me personally if there is no other GM product approved ever. I make nothing financially or in any other way from GM crops.

"It would be very sad to lose the technology, because as a scientist I believe there are many benefits to spring from it." These included making crops grow with less water.

The ultimate veto lay with consumers, but she said she was not being patronising about their lack of scientific knowledge. "It is important to present a balanced view ... We are talking difficult science here."

The committee's judgments were "robust and conservative". Where there was an iota of doubt, approval would not be given.

Members were helping the government to set up a monitoring system for consumption and possible health consequences of all new foods, despite supermarkets being unwilling to let information from their loyalty scheme cards be used in this way. But she was confident this monitoring "would not produce any disadvantageous effects".

Norman Simmons, a committee member and microbiologist, said: "There is a lot of emotion about the discussion of the products - not an impartial, unbiased, scientific debate about the safety. We find ourselves in a jungle with very little soundly based argument.

"The foods we eat now are not natural. We are not hunter-gatherers, and we do not pick up any old food."

GM ingredients in vegetarian cheese, tomato paste, maize and soya have been approved by the committee since the early 1990s. It now believes GM tinned tomatoes should be allowed, although the European commission is still studying the application.