Thursday 21 October 1999 Immediate Release

The publishing of a controversial study which appeared to show rats suffering ill health when fed genetically engineered potatoes has been supported by Alliance Health Spokesperson Phillida Bunkle.

"I congratulate the editor of The Lancet for publishing this research despite its very serious limitations pointed out by peer reviewers. The findings raise more questions than answers and this is precisely why I commend The Lancet for their actions," said Phillida Bunkle. "At least it is now in the public domain and available for criticism and debate."

The research by Dr Arpad Pusztai and Professor Stanley Ewen has just been published by the prestigious medical journal The Lancet.

"Although the research has not produced authoritative results at least Dr Putzi and Professor Ewen were attempting to investigate this critical issue. Scieitific method now demands that their experiments be replicated. This is crucial to scientific process. The research shows that there needs to be much more work done in this area, not less."

"It is terrible that GE foods have been marketed before toxicology experiments have been undertaken. This is why the Alliance supports a GE Moratorium."

"Our Government should not be spending money on developing GE technology when it is spending nothing on quantifying safety. An Alliance government will require proof of food safety before GE crops are grown here," said Phillida Bunkle. "The momentum is now escalating for public safety."

ENDS

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