A pioneering food allergy laboratory in York today hit out at a consumer magazine following its refusal to update a damning criticism of its work.

York Nutritional Laboratories, headed by managing director John Graham, drew heavy criticism from Health Which? in a report in December 1998, in which its programmes helping people with food intolerances were described as "at best misleading, at worst dangerous".

The article was preceded by a press release to many national newspapers, although Mr Graham disputed the story then, and still does today.

The laboratories have gone on to help scores of people, changing the life of York man Keith Matson, who had suffered serious intestinal problems for 29 years. But Mr Graham believes the story still has the effect of keeping some people away who might benefit from the laboratory's work.

Today, he strongly criticised Health Which? because it has refused to reassess the laboratory in the light of new research carried out by the University of York for the British Allergy Foundation, which consistently praises its work.

"I think they have a duty to their readers as responsible journalists to amend this matter," he told the Evening Press.

Mr Graham believes the Which? article was compiled along false grounds.

"They sent in a small number of people, who weren't actually ill, and they didn't implement the dietary changes we recommended," he said.

Mr Graham, himself a member of the Consumers' Association for 20 years, says the story has had a wide impact.

"Commercially it has damaged us, and it has left hundreds of thousands of people feeling that they might be unwise to come to us," he added.

Mr Graham's most recent letter to Health Which? called on editor Kaye McIntosh to reassess the lab through one of three options:

* A response to the university's new research

* An updating of the original story

* A second visit to the lab itself.

But a reply from Which? refuses any of these. In a letter to Mr Graham, Adam Treslove, of the Consumers' Association corporate relations department, says: "We do not currently have plans to revisit this area in the foreseeable future.

"We are confident that the research carried out at the time resulted in an accurate and balanced article."

Mr Graham added: "Part of the Consumers' Association mission statement is "empowering people to make informed consumer decisions".

"I don't really believe they are doing that at present."

Health Which? has so far been unavailable for comment.

Updated: 10:50 Tuesday, May 29, 2001