'Official bias' on GM food

THE CHAIRMAN of supermarket giant Iceland Foods has accused civil servants of being "biased" in favour of genetically modified (GM) foods and contemptuous of consumer choice.

Martin Walker, head of the chain, told MPs that officials in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Foods (Maff) had shown "strong personal support" for the biotechnology industry. In his evidence to the Science and Technology Select Committee, Mr Walker said officials of the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes had told him shoppers did not understand the issues and should not be given a choice.

Iceland launched its own range of GM-free foods last year, but Mr Walker said it had met fierce resistance from government officials. A Maff spokesman said the Government had made clear it was "fully committed" to the principle of consumer choice.