HC Deb 10 December 2003 vol 415 c504W
Gregory Barker

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what scientific advice he has received on whether children may be more susceptible to allergies and other diverse effects from eating GM food. [138818]

Miss Melanie Johnson

To date, the Food Standards Agency is not aware of any research that has been undertaken to determine if children are more susceptible to allergies and other possible effects from eating genetically modified food.

Gregory Barker

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of research conducted worldwide into the effects on the health of children of consuming GM foods. [138819]

Miss Melanie Johnson

The Food Standards Agency is not aware of any such research and has not therefore made an assessment. Each genetically modified (GM) food is only approved after a rigorous safety assessment, which is carried out on a case-by-case basis. GM foods have been consumed by millions of people in the United States over a number of years with no reports of adverse effects.