Under a three-year contract with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Central Science Laboratory, Sand Hutton, will investigate genetically modified foods (Evening Press, February 25).

Questions of scientific objectivity and independence arise because the labs are also bidding for contracts from the GM food industry.

Melvyn Askew, the scientist in charge of the new project, says GM modification will offer wonderful opportunities.

With such fact-free unbiased enthusiasm, we can only ask: for whom?

Apparently this will help farmers produce more profitable crops; provide raw materials for industry, pharmaceuticals even automotive products.

Nothing has changed.

Consumer health, safety and consent are as irrelevant as ever.

Where are these farms on which alternative plants may be grown? In our area? Without our consent.

I suggest City of York Council sets a national example by initiating a local referendum on the whole GM issue.

GM products lack long-term testing so there are no health or safety guarantees for humans, animals or the environment.

There is no guarantee that GM agents will not escape into our water supplies, the air or soil so creating bio-hazards against which we have no known defence.

Like BSE, once it's in our food and environment we are defenceless to protect ourselves and our children.

A referendum will enable voters to defend themselves against any scientific intrigue and multi-national powers.

M Hanna-Rawan,

Woodside Avenue,

Burnholme,

York.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.