Shame on 'wormy' research 1

You reported on our open letter signed by 40 scientists to the British Food Journal calling for a research paper to be retracted, but you let both the paper's senior author and the journal editor justify research that almost all other scientists, and certainly non-scientists, would find unacceptable ("Researchers call on journal to retract paper on GM food", 7 February).

The paper failed even in honest reporting. If Times Higher Education were to write up such a biased survey and say it shows consumers prefer to buy genetically modified food, it would be a matter for the Press Complaints Commission.

Worse still, the paper was given an award for excellence.

An article posted on the Institute of Science in Society website shows how seriously politicians are taking the matter (www.i-sis.org.uk/politiciansDenounceGMOTricks.php). It resulted in an early day motion tabled by Michael Meacher MP, which attracted signatures, the latest being that of Alex Salmond, leader of the Scottish National Party and Scotland's First Minister. It was also denounced in the Irish Senate, and Irish MEP Kathy Sinnott is taking the matter to the European Parliament.

Mae-Wan Ho, Director, Institute of Science in Society