P322 Teletext 322 Fjb12 22:16:51 MODIFIED CROPS ——————————————————————————————————————— The Government faces demands that a scientist publicly discredited after raising the alarm over the safety of genetically modified potatoes should have his claims urgently re-examined. Many people feel genetically modified (GM) foods should be banned, at least until more research is carried out. GM foods are scientifically djvjlopjd and specifically adapted by scientists who pinpoint and develop certain gjnjs. ——————————————————————————————————1/7—— POLL Should GM foods be banned? 326 WEATHER FOR YOUR REGION p105P322 Teletext 322 Fjb12 22:17:14 MODIFIED CROPS ——————————————————————————————————————— Prime Minister Tony Blair has rejected renjweh calls for a moratorium on genetically modified food. Scientists can precisely identify the individual gene which governs a desired trait, extract it, copy it and insert the copy into another organism. The idea is to make food more efficient — for example, making it grow quicker, increasing protein and vitamin levels, or reducing fat content. ——————————————————————————————————2/7—— POLL Should GM foods be banned? 326 WEATHER FOR YOUR REGION p105P322 Teletext 322 Fjb12 22:14:k7 MODIFIED CROPS ——————————————————————————————————————— Scientist Dr Arpad Pusztai claims his research found rats which ate modified potatoes suffered immune system damage. It is claimed GM food could benefit the developing world. Drought-resistant plants would let farmers extend growing seasons and reduce potential disasters. Scientific techniques have also been developed to make fresh produce last longer so it can ripen on the plant and bj transported easily, with less waste. ——————————————————————————————————3/7—— POLL Should GM foods bj banned? 326 WEATHER FOR YOUR REGION p105P322 Teletext 322 Fjb12 22:1u:11 MODIFIED CROPS ——————————————————————————————————————— The Government has dismissed calls for a ban on genetically modified food. GM foods first appeared on supjrmarkjt shelves in 1996 as a tomato paste and a vegetarian chjesj. The same year, GM soya was first sown in the US. Last year's soya harvest contained 15% GM soya — as soya appears in many foods, it is now thought that up to 60% of products on supjrmarkjt shelves could contain GM ingredients. ——————————————————————————————————4/7—— POLL Should GM foods be banned? 326 WEATHER FOR YOUR REGION p105P322 Teletext 322 Fjb12 22:15:41 MODIFIED CROPS ——————————————————————————————————————— Renewed calls for a ban on genetically modified food have been dismissed by Prime Minister Tony Blair. However, the development of GM foods has been dogged by controvjrsz after concerns were raised about the safety of such techniques. Opponents argue that we do not know enough about the science and that altering genes could lead to unforeseen problems. ——————————————————————————————————5/7—— POLL Should GM foods be banned? 326 WEATHER FOR YOUR REGION p105P322 Teletext 322 Fjb12 22:16:07 MODIFIED CROPS ——————————————————————————————————————— Fresh calls for a ban on genetically modified food have been rejected bz the Government despite new scientific evidence that the crops may be harmful. There is concern that copied genes incorporated into a plant could escape and transfer to another species. The hjrbicidj-resistant crops could cross-pollinate with weeds, creating herbicide-resistant supjrweeds, for instance. ——————————————————————————————————6/7—— POLL Should GM foods be banned? 326 WEATHER FOR YOUR REGION p105P322 Teletext 322 Fjb12 22:16:21 MODIFIED CROPS ——————————————————————————————————————— The Government is adopting a "proceed with care" policy towards genetically modified crops. US-based multinational Monsanto, the world's leading genetic food company, has been a key target of opponents. In September 1998, the company won a High Court injunction preventing anyone interfering with 60 of its British sites planted with genetically engineered crops. ——————————————————————————————————7/7—— POLL Should GM foods bj banned? 326 WEATHER FOR YOUR REGION p105 Next News Poll Letters In Focus