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Every steak in UK restaurants is raised on GM feed, says Cabinet minister in charge of farming | Mail Online

Thursday, December 13, 2012 1:34

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Environment Secretary Owen Paterson said there are ‘real environmental benefits’ to GM technology
Mr Paterson claimed public concerns about genetically modified food were unfounded

By Sean Poulter, Consumer Affairs Editor

PUBLISHED: 03:30 GMT, 10 December 2012 | UPDATED: 00:49 GMT, 11 December 2012

Fears over Frankenstein Foods are ‘humbug’, the new farming minister insisted yesterday, arguing that many Britons happily eat beef from cattle fed on GM crops.

Addressing public concern about the genetically modified food industry’s increasing influence, Owen Paterson said: ‘There isn’t a single piece of meat being served [in a typical London restaurant] where a bullock hasn’t eaten some GM feed. So it’s a complete nonsense.’

But the Environment Secretary’s dismissive response angered campaigners, who pointed out that consumers’ apparent willingness to eat GM-raised beef was simply a result of the food not being labelled as such.

Controversial: Critics fear genetically modified foods can cause environmental harm and damage human health

The row emerged as Downing Street said David Cameron was backing moves to speed up the approval process for controversial new GM crops and food.

Ministers and officials are currently lobbying in Brussels for the European Commission to make it easier for Frankenstein Food giants to cultivate their crops.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: ‘The Government has a position on GM foods which is, provided that it’s used safely and responsibly, it can deliver benefits and help address the challenge of global food security.

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‘We have to ensure public safety and take decisions based on the scientific evidence, though in principle we are obviously supportive. If we can speed up a slow system then we should do that.’

Mr Paterson’s support is a victory for the biotech giants, such as Monsanto, which have been lobbying ministers and officials.

Unfounded: Owen Paterson said concern about genetically modified food was ‘a complete nonsense’

His stance is all the more remarkable as he was once a champion of organic farming. In 2000 he challenged Labour ministers to ensure proper separation distances around GM crops to avoid contaminating regular crops.

Successive governments, including the Coalition, have gone to great lengths to ensure there is no label to identify food that comes from animals reared on a GM diet.

As a result, shoppers cannot know whether their food has a link to imports of GM feed, such as corn or soya. Currently, the only way to avoid GM is to shop at Marks & Spencer, which has a ban, or to choose organic meat, milk and eggs.

Mr Paterson argued that the cultivation of GM crops would have ‘real environmental benefits’.

He said: ‘Emphatically we should be looking at GM … I’m very clear it would be a good thing. The trouble is all this stuff about “Frankenstein foods” and “putting poisons in foods”.

‘There are real benefits, and what you’ve got to do is sell the real environmental benefits.’

In fact, Britain’s only large-scale GM crop farm trials – carried out ten years ago – found evidence of real harm to wild plants, insects, and, potentially, farmland birds such as the skylark.

US research shows the widespread cultivation of GM crops has brought disaster for many farmers following the emergence of superweeds and superbugs.

In some cases the only way to remove the rampant weeds is with large quantities of highly toxic chemicals, machetes and flamethrowers to burn out their roots.

At the same time, studies continue to raise questions over whether GM crops and food are safe for human health.

Peter Melchett, of the Soil Association, which campaigns against GM, said: ‘Owen Paterson says that people are eating meat from animals fed on GM feed without realising it. That is because the British Government has consistently opposed moves to label to give consumers accurate information, and he should put that right by immediately introducing compulsory labelling of meat and milk from animals fed on GM feed.’

He added: ‘Owen Paterson is wrong to claim that GM crops are good for the environment. The UK Government’s own farm-scale experiment showed that overall the GM crops were worse for British wildlife.

‘US Government figures show that overall pesticide use has increased since GM crops have been grown there, because, as scientists opposed to GM predicted, superweeds and resistant insects have multiplied.’

Pete Riley, of campaign group GM Freeze, said: ‘Mr Paterson has got his facts wrong as well as fundamentally misunderstanding why GM is not grown or sold in the UK.

‘The UK does not grow GM crops because the Government’s own farm-scale trials showed a decade ago that GM harms wildlife already threatened by industrial farming.

‘The evolution of superweeds and superbugs was an inevitable consequence of following a model of food production that still fails to deliver food to people who need it while causing considerable harm to the planet.’

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I predict cancer for every human that eats regular GMO foods I doubt children being brough up on GMO foods to live past 60 years old most wont make it to 50 years old

- richard , nottingham, United Kingdom, 12/12/2012 10:32

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Owen Paterson is, to quote himself, “complete nonsense”. He is foolishly uninformed about the character of biological systems, concerning which he feigns wisdom. What uselessness this failed centre of imperialism, from which my ancestors migrated, has fallen into! Peter Wills, Waiheke Island, Aotearoa-New Zealand.

- peterwills , Auckland, New Zealand, 12/12/2012 08:57

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Why have you claimed in your headline that he said every restaurant in the UK…..and then go on to clarify that he actually said any “typical London restaurant”. What is this strange need you have to always lie in your headlines? Is it some sort of disorder your employees have? – Mark, UK, 11/12/2012 12:22 Look up Kol Nidre

- john , rossendale, 12/12/2012 08:12

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Kellogs even more of a GM scource than the beef…me thinks. I have asked Kellogs and they wont confirm or deny.

- Hunty , Carnforth, 11/12/2012 19:57

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I’d say the beef in the US is literally 100 times superior to yours. – Mainline FL, MIami And I’d disagree – our Aberdeen Angus and Hereford beef is 1000 times better than your rubbish – and I’ve tried it in many parts of the USA!

- eglwys , shangri la, 11/12/2012 17:40

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David Cameron and co. Should be removed forcibly from Govt. It is obvious where their agenda lies.

- Fiscal_Cliff , Coventry, United Kingdom, 11/12/2012 17:35

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There is overwhelming evidence that GM foods are dangerous. There are also widely publicised pictures of laboratory animals that had been fed GM-rich diets and had massive cancerous tumors as a result. As in all such cases as Mr Paterson’s sudden turn-around – FOLLOW THE MONEY!

- janet , london, 11/12/2012 16:35

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- Mark , UK, 11/12/2012 12:22

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If this is the case then you should be sacked for not keeping a tighter grip on things; how dare you act so laid back about a subject that most people in the UK do not want. It has not been proven beyond all reasonable doubt that there can be no ill effects from eating GM food, there could be knock on effects for future generations, we just don’t know. I voted for a party that I hoped would reflect my views as much as possible; all I’ve seen is a party who wilfully ignores their electorate’s wishes and runs roughshod over serious issues such as this and the devastation of our Green belt with housing developments and HS2 and the planned obliteration of Badgers, I could go on. There is only one route left for me now and that;s Ukip.

- Carol , Buckingham, 11/12/2012 12:10

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Another day, another stupid remark from a man in the pay of his true masters. You work out who they are and it’s not Parliament.

- david , malvern, 11/12/2012 11:28

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