Reuters | October 18, 1999
LONDON - The British government came under fire Monday from a team of its own scientists over the way it is handling genetically modified (GM) foods.
The Economic and Social Research Council, a team of government-funded scientists, was cited as saying that the government had underestimated the intelligence of the public over GM foods and that many people now believed it was biased in GM's favor.
The council added that the public understood the issues surrounding GM technology - both the benefits and the risks - and that it was time for regulators to assess the "big questions" of GM, not just the narrow technological issues, stating, "Science can't answer all the questions.
People have very sophisticated and sensible attitudes toward these kind of risks. You shouldn't assume they are ignorant or ill-informed. We just believe that policy-makers, regulators, should treat what the public are saying seriously and tread cautiously. Carefully weigh up all of these risks and do it sensibly."
The government defended its record, saying it had encouraged debate and brought openness to the process.
It had introduced labeling for GM foods sold in restaurants and shops, severed links with the industry and was carrying out trials of GM crops with the full knowledge of the public.
Environment Minister Michael Meacher was quoted as saying, "I very strongly support openness, transparency, involving the public. That of course is what we are trying to do."
But government was aware that opinion was running against GM foods, heightened by a history of food scares in Britain.
"I quite understand this. The public is skeptical," Meacher told BBC radio. "We are taking this very seriously."
