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Hysterical headlines and fact-free stories result of GMO scare

April 08, 1999

The result of the recent debate about genetically modified organisms was total delirium, hysterical headlines, and a series of alarmist, largely fact-free stories that suggested GM foods were a threat to human health, concludes Robin McKie, Science Editor of the Observer, in an opinion piece, published in Science and Public Affairs, this month.

Robin McKie concludes that the debate revealed more about the media and green pressure groups than it did about science. The Green movement had been spoiling for a fight over food for a long time and deliberately picked genetically modified crops as its chosen battleground. Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace and similar organisations have always been unhappy about the intensive nature of food production in the West, but have lacked a clearly defined target. Then along comes GM foods - with their implications of insidious, invisible tinkering - and provided a perfect bulls-eye.

Certain newspapers and reporters are applauded by Robin McKie for their approach to the issue but he considers that many science editors were sidelined over the issue and concludes this was probably due to their editors dislike of their irritating insistence on debunking the drivel that was appearing in their own columns. McKie expresses unease that a group of the country's most distinguished researchers were ignored by most newspapers but the supporters of Pusztai - the researcher who's work sparked the recent controversy - were quoted widely and constantly described as an international group of eminent scientists, though they were hardly top rank.

McKie is unsure whether this particular controversy will have any long-term impact. He hopes that the Times's analysis is correct; that most readers treat frenzies with the disdain that they deserve.

ENDS

Bristol, University of

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