Friday, February 12, 1999 Published at 12:48 GMT
Fears erupt over genetic food
Dr Arpad Pusztai: Vindicated
Safety fears over genetically-modified food have received dramatic support after scientists backed a disgraced colleague who said that rats fed genetically-modified potatoes suffered health damage.
However Prime Minister Tony Blair has rejected the calls from consumer, environmental and food pressure groups, as well as opposition politicians.
He told the BBC: "We need to clarify what the scientific outcome of these experiments really is. But it is not a reason to ban all genetically-modified foods."
Support for doctor
He told Granada's World in Action that he would not eat the GM food and said it was "very, very unfair to use our fellow citizens as guinea pigs".
Within 48 hours he was suspended in humiliation and later effectively forced to retire. The RRI said he had misinterpreted his results.
But now the group of scientists, drawn from 13 different countries, have re-examined his work and signed a joint memorandum saying his conclusions were justified. The group included toxicologists, genetic engineers and medical experts.
He said: "Dr Puztai did some direct hazard assessment, got some unexpected results and then spoke out. I think he was right."
However Professor Phillip James, director of RRI, stuck by his actions over Dr Putzai, saying the research was incomplete and unchecked.
Immune system and organ damage
Dr Pusztai's experiments involved feeding rats on GM potatoes for 10 days. He found that some of the rats' immune systems were weakened.
The cause of these problems is not known and the group of scientists has demanded immediate funding to investigate.
An audit carried out by the RRI last year cleared Dr Pusztai of fraud but said there was no basis for his conclusions. The group of scientists has now savagely criticised that audit saying it contained "serious flaws" and that a "great injustice" had been committed.