1. Krebs continues way ahead in the poll!
2. Soil Association responds to Food Standards Agency
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1. Krebs continues way ahead in the poll.
Here are some typical comments:
Dear Jean Debris,
Thanks for the poll, though I have to say this is an extremely difficult choice. However, my vote goes to Mr. Krebs.
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My vote has to go to the man of the moment Mr Krebs for his ground breaking 3 carrot experiment and his attack on organic foods that accompanied the publication of the findings!
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HOWEVER, M. Jean DeBris writes, "Do not forget those other members of the nasty brigade: CropGen and Stossel. As regards the latter the San Francisco Chronicle wrote, "The fabrication of information on an ABC news report -- not to mention the neglect of extensive evidence disputing its conclusions -- raises serious questions of journalistic integrity. According to Brill's Content magazine, over the last two years, Stossel has collected hundreds of thousands of dollars in speaking fees from various industry and conservative groups, including agribusiness interests."
[http://members.tripod.com/~ngin/organic.htm]
Do you really think Krebs is worse than mindless GM propagandists like CropGen and Stossel? Please let us know. Merci!"
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2. Soil Association responds to Food Standards Agency
PRESS STATEMENT
The Soil Association is deeply concerned that Sir John Krebs of the Food Standards Agency is failing to inform himself and be objective in the on-going national food debate.
Just yesterday Swiss scientists released a statement saying that they already have evidence that organically grown fruit and vegetables are healthier than conventionally grown produce. This supports other promising research already underway on nutritional value in Europe, for example in Denmark. An United Nations FAO report in July also concluded that organic practices can reduce e-coli infection that causes food poisoning and also reduce the levels of contaminants in foods.
Harry Hadaway, Soil Association spokesperson, says, "A big problem in the UK is the lack of expenditure on research into the benefits of organic food. This should be a prime focus for the £20 million of tax payers money that the Food Standards Agency was given for research."
"As a historic supporter of GM foods Sir John Krebs continues not to represent the wishes of the British consumer, who have made it clear that they reject chemical farming and GM food, due to the growing evidence of environmental and health impacts of this type of food production."
The recently published Biodiversity Benefits of Organic Farming report proved, using 23 separate studies, that organic farming would significantly benefit wildlife in the UK. This report was supported and endorsed by WWF-UK.
Contact Mike Collins, Soil Association Press Office, 0117 987 4580
Harry Hadaway, Soil Association Spokesperson 0117 914 2449
Notes to Editors
1.FAO report, "Food safety and quality as affected by organic farming", presented at the 22nd FAO regional conference for Europe, Portugal, 24-28 July 2000
2.Organic Research Institute, Switzerland
3."The Biodiversity Benefits of Organic Farming" , published by the Soil Association, May 2000