FOOD ROW SCIENTIST ALLEGES `COVER-UP'
PA 15.02.99 09:19
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By Paul Hunter, PA News
The scientist at the centre of the row over genetically modified
food has accused the Government of keeping his research out of
the public eye, reports today said.
A letter from Dr Arpad Putsztai revealed the Scottish Office has
been in possession of an "alternative report" on the
affair since October but is refusing to release it, The Scotsman
newspaper said today.
In the letter to a sympathiser, Dr Putsztai, who worked at the
Rowett Institute in Aberdeen, accused Scottish health minister
Sam Galbraith of "sitting on our conclusions" after his
original research, the newspaper said.
Dr Putsztai was suspended after controversy over research which
was first said to show that rats fed GM potatoes had suffered
immune system damage.
His conclusions and the research was later said to be unfounded.
Dr Putsztai, who is banned from speaking publicly on the issue,
made his feelings known in a letter to John Parfitt, a retired
librarian from Bristol who has an interest in GM food research.
In the letter, dated December 18, Dr Putsztai said: "At
least some MPs ought to know that there has been a cover-up, so
that when the whole truth is revealed, they cannot say, `I am
afraid I did not know what was going on'.
"Let us hope that eventually everything will be revealed as
in a civilised democratic society it should be.
"I am not against genetic engineering, I only ask for proper
tests to be carried out before and not after GM food is
released."
The Government has stated that it will not agree to a moratorium
on experiments and the sale of GM food.
Prime Minister Tony Blair is facing mounting political
controversy over the issue.