Monsanto threatens to sue World in Action
14 August 1998
Monsanto threatens to sue World in Action
BIOTECHNOLOGY giant Monsanto is threatening to sue the World in Action television programme over claims made in a recent broadcast about genetically modified food.
The programme hit the headlines earlier in the week when a senior scientist from the renowned Rowett Research Institute claimed he had evidence of a potential link between genetically modified food and damage to the immune systems of human beings.
He said research carried out at the institute showed a link between potatoes containing the lectin gene and damage to the immune systems of laboratory rats.
This research was subsequently discredited and the scientist at the centre of the storm, Dr Arpad Pusztai, was suspended.
Colin Merritt, Monsantos technical manager, said the companys lawyers believed there are legitimate grounds to sue the TV programme.
- Monsanto calls on World in Action to eat its GM words, FWi, yesterday (13 August)
- The Scotsman 14/08/98 page 20