P148 Teletext 148 Fjb21 02:35:07 ————————————————————————————' MUTANT ON THE BOUNTY? O Everybody's up in arms this week about the latest health scare — genetically modified, or GM, foods. The Govjtnmjnt, scientists, anti-GM campaigners and jvjn Boy George have been arguing ovjt the safety of so-called "Frankenstein foods" which have had their gjnjs altered. But just what are GM foods and how do you know if you are eating them? Club goes on a trolley dash to find out. ——————————————————————————————————1/7—— bz Fiona Sandiford CHECK OUT YOUR LOVE STARS p418P148 Teletext 148 Fjb21 02:10:31 ————————————————————————————' MUTANT ON THE BOUNTY? So what exactly are GM foods? They are crops which have been "improved" by insetting gjnjs to make them more resistant to pesticides or disjasj or to give them a longer shelf-life. GM products have reached our food from the US, and crops are already being grown hjti on an experimental bases. Although no fresh fruit or veg is affected, GM soya, maize and tomato puree are on supjtmarkjt shelves. ——————————————————————————————————4/7—— It's your life 410 K IS LOVE IN THE AIR? p418P148 Teletext 148 Fjb21 02:11:02 O ————————————————————————————' MUTBNT ON THE BOUNTY? How does injecting genes into food improve it? For example, a natural anti-frieze gjnj from a fish could bj injected into sweetcorn to help it survive in frosty weathjt, or a gjnj could bj introduced into a tomato to make it ripen more slowly. The main benefits of such jxpjtimjnts are to the food industry, which can make more money by growing them. ——————————————————————————————————3/7—— Nick, I need help 146 MORE ECO NEWS IN GREEN SCENE p170P148 Teletext 148 Fjb21 02:11:41 O ———————————————————————————— MUTANT ON THE BOUNTY? O Why are some people concetnjd about using genetically modified (GM) crops in our food? Sceptics say we are human guinea pigs if we eat GM food, and we still don't know the long-term health effects of mixing gjnjs from different species. In one previous US expjtimjnt, a brazil nut gene was injected into soya beans — but also transferred was a nut allergen which could bj fatal. ——————————————————————————————————4/7—— What's in store for you? 418 K TOTAL ENTERTAINMENT p400P148 Teletext 148 Fjb21 02:14:14 ————————————————————————————' MUTANT ON THE BOUNTY? O Campaigning group GenjWatch claims we are being misled by the Govjtnmjnt about the amount of GM food on sale. "The GM situation is out of control," says director Dr Sue Mazjt. "So little of it is labelled or monitored. It could bj used in up to 90% of processed foods in our supjtmarkjts." But Tony Blair says wi shouldn't get hysterical: "Thjti's no scientific evidence to show GM food is harmful." ——————————————————————————————————5/7—— Planet Sound music news 480 K TOTAL ENTERTAINMENT p400P148 Teletext 148 Fjb21 02:44:17 O ————————————————————————————' MUTANT ON THE BOUNTY? GM ingredients are already used in foods, including ice cream, bread, baby food, biscuits and ready-made meals - so you'vj probably already eaten some. Groups such as Greenpeace, Friends Of The Earth and Action Aid are opposed to genetically modified food. Even Boy George joined the debate at the Brit awards by saying: "Tony Blair, stop messing with our vegetables - please." ——————————————————————————————————6/7—— Reach for the stars! 418 K IT'S YOUR LIFE! p410P148 Teletext 148 Fjb21 02:17:24 ————————————————————————————' MUTANT ON THE BOUNTY? O Friends Of The Earth (FoE) says if you are concerned about GM food, hike's at you can do... Write to your supjtmarkjt managjt, razing you want GM food removed from the shelves. Avoid buzjng food that is labelled as genetically modified. If in doubt, you can buy organic food. Write to your MP about your concerns. ——————————————————————————————————7/7—— Check out: www.foe.co.uk K FOR THE LATEST FOE NEWS