Is it likely I will eat GM food In Britain?
In all probability, you already have. Prior to 1997, when tighter EU regulations kicked in, three GM foods had already been approved in Britain - maize, soya and tomatoes (sold as purée), which were used in many processed foods at the time. However, since 1998 the UK's major supermarkets and food manufacturers have gradually eliminated GM ingredients from their products, due to mounting fears about safety.
Is there a catch?
The exceptions are meat, eggs and dairy produce, where animals may have eaten cereal feed derived from GM crops. Another grey area is processed foods, which may contain highly processed 'derivatives' of GM soya and maize If you have eaten processed food, you have eaten GM (see the hidden ingredients, right).
What could happen in the near future?
By September, findings from the GM debate will have been presented to the government. At the same time, the results from various GM crop trials in Britain - known as Farm Scale Evaluations - will be known, outlining the environmental impact of growing GM maize (35 sites), oilseed rape (27 sites), sugar beet and fodder beet (25 sites) since March 2000. If the evidence is positive - or even inconclusive - such crops could be licensed and grown commercially here by next spring, for use in animal feed.
Will this create a deluge of GM foods, as in America?
Probably not, given the scale of public suspicion - and the fact that no fresh GM produce has ever been approved in Britain. GM's real potential lies not in the shopping baskets of Western Europe but in the Third World. The technology could be used to make maize more nutritious; to help crops thrive in drought-ridden soil; and to grow staples, such as cassava and sweet potatoes, laced with vaccines against life-threatening diseases.
What about the planet?
A study has shown that Bt maize (a GM crop that produces its own insecticide) can poison not just the insects that feed on it, but the Monarch butterfly. Environmentalists argue that insects could become immune to the Bt toxin, resulting in a plague of indestructible 'superbugs'.
How can I get involved?
If you want to join the debate apply to attend the last three conferences (tel: 020 7261 8616 or email lee.hancock-coi.gsi.gov.uk). For further information, go to www.gmnation.org.uk.
