-Caveat Lector- <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/"> </A> -Cui Bono?- Dave Hartley http://www.asheville-computer.com/dave Reuters:UK: February 29, 2000 EDINBURGH - Scientist Arpad Pusztai, who triggered concerns about genetically modified food last year, said yesterday he was convinced more needed to be done to ensure the technology was not harmful to animals and humans. He called in an interview with Reuters for international collaboration to examine GM products. "That conviction has been growing," said Pusztai, attending an international conference in Edinburgh on GM foods. "In the United States there are 42 genetically modified foodstuffs, so there is plenty to look at. We ought to do it as soon as possible." Pusztai said industry must also be involved in the effort but in an indirect way because consumers would have no confidence otherwise in the research. "There will always be suspicions that money speaks. We have to evolve some sort of system whereby we would be able to get money indirectly, for example GM and biotechnology companies could put money in a trust and then the trust would deal with it, rather than direct involvement," he said. Pusztai said scientists from the United States and the European Union should be involved. GM FOOD CONFERENCE Some 400 scientists, regulators and environmental and consumer activists are attending a three-day conference on GM food set up by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The meeting followed a request from the Group of Eight (G8) industialised countries for more information. The OECD has said it hopes the meeting will provide a constructive debate about GM food and the way forward. The findings will be presented to the next G8 meeting in July. Pusztai said he stood by his original claims based on research on rats that GM food might directly harm human health. He found that rats fed potatoes modified to produce an insecticide appeared to have immune response and growth problems. He was criticised for voicing his concerns in a television documentary before his research was published in a peer-reviewed journal and was fired from his job at the Rowett Research Institute in Scotland. The research has since been printed in The Lancet medical journal but its validity is still questioned. Professor Zhangliang Chen, vice president of Beijing University in China, told the conference that similar research he had conducted using GM sweet peppers and tomatoes had no adverse impact on rats. Pusztai said he had not seen the Chinese research but it was important to continue studies into the safety of GM products. "At least he (Chen) did try to show whether it is safe or not," he told Reuters. "Dr Chen did not say how he did the experiment. It is extremely important to know how it is done." ================================= *** NOTICE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. *** <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soap-boxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
