Misleading statements on FSA and GM

Grocer, May 3, 2003 by Neil Martinson

from Neil Martinson, director of communications, Food Standards Agency

SIR; The letter from the Soil Association's Peter Melchett (The Grocer, April 19 2003, p30) contained a number of misleading and inaccurate statements regarding the role of the Food Standards Agency in relation to genetically modified foods.

The FSA position on the labelling of GM foods is one that supports practical enforceability. That dearly is in the interests of consumers.

To say that the views of our Citizen's Jury got "curiously little attention' in our press release is rather wide of the mark.

The jury, in fact, approved the press release and agreed that it represented the differing views expressed by the jury. Readers can make up their own minds by viewing the webcast at www.food.gov.uk.

Finally, Lord Melchett is wrong to say the FSA will report through the GM public debate steering group.

The FSA board will report to ministers and we will share that same report with the steering group.