22/02/2011
By Evelyn Ring
LEADING chef and television presenter Clodagh McKenna has warned that the Government’s U-turn on genetically modified (GM) foods will damage Ireland’s reputation. Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith will travel to Brussels today to support EU Commission proposals to introduce a tolerance for the low-level presence of, as yet, unauthorised GM varieties in animal feed imports.
Earlier this month, Mr Smith confirmed Ireland’s intention to change its voting position to support EU Commission proposals aimed at authorising the marketing of food, food ingredients and feed containing, consisting of, or produced from GM maize and cotton.
Mr Smith said he decided to change Ireland’s voting position because of the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) positive scientific opinion, which the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) agreed with.
Ms McKenna, who was speaking at a press conference organised by concerned representatives in the food sector, said they should have been consulted about how they felt about GM foods being brought into Ireland.
“We are getting our name out there because of our growing reputation for good food and we cannot allow GM feed to be brought into Ireland,” she said.
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