PRISONER STARTS HUNGER STRIKE OVER GENE SWAP FOOD
PA 27.08.98 17:26
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By Jo Butler, Home Affairs Correspondent, PA News
A prisoner has gone on hunger strike in protest at having to eat genetically modified
food, it emerged today.
Ben Thompson stopped eating yesterday morning and said he would not eat again until prison
authorities promised to provide him with a vegan diet free from any genetically altered
ingredients.
His protest is being backed by campaigners against genetically modified organisms (GMO)
who claim prison authorities should not be forcing prisoners to eat food which many people
believe has not been properly tested for long term health effects.
Friends and relatives of Thompson, being held in HMP Bullingdon, Oxfordshire, say they are
concerned for his health, but are backing his calls for all prisoners to be given the
option to boycott food which comes from GMOs.
Thompson, 25, is serving a three month sentence for his part in protests against cats
being bred for vivisection at a farm in Witney, Oxfordshire.
A spokeswoman for the Genetic Engineering Network which is supporting him said: "All
over the UK and in many parts of Europe people are choosing to avoid foods that contain
genetically modified organisms.
"Whilst diets based on religious and ethical beliefs are fully recognised within the
prison system, GMO free options are not. This inadequacy must be addressed."
The Prison Service said Thompson's health was being monitored but there were no grounds
for concern as yet.
The Prison Service said it had a policy of offering inmates vegetarian or vegan food
options to meet dietary requirements, but did not require prisons to offer GM-free food in
line with Government assurances that it was safe to eat.
However, individual prison governors could make their own policy decisions on the issue.