In the race to cut production costs in UK farming, important food and environmental safety concerns are being forgotten.
Genetic engineering is imprecise and unpredictable. But most testing is carried out by the very biotech companies that have the most to gain from results that say GM food is safe.
Growing GM crops also threatens wildlife and the production of GM free foods. What's more some GM crops could allow more pesticides to be used.
The irony is that we don't need GM food. The biotech industry says it will feed the world's poor - but leading third world charities - like Christian Aid - dismiss their claims.
Did you know?
About half of all UK fruit and vegetables contain pesticide residues
Data from Pesticides Residues Committee 1998 to 2001
Most fruit and vegetables for sale in our shops and supermarkets are grown using pesticides - chemicals that kill pests like insects and weeds.
Some pesticides may be used just to make sure our fruit and vegetables look cosmetically perfect on supermarket shelves.
But their widespread usage is causing health problems:
Friends of the Earth says
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Main image © Tom Luddington / Friends of the Earth
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