GM food bosses face roasting

Despite the healthy look UK consumers have doubts about GM food

BBC World News 23apr99

The bosses of one of the world's leading biotechnology companies, Monsanto, are facing a rough ride from their shareholders.

The Chief executive of the US-based group, Robert Shapiro, is likely to face criticism at his company's annual general meeting for mishandling the debate over genetically modified (GM) foods in Europe.

Missouri-based Monsanto spent heavily on publicity in the UK but appears to have lost the battle for the hearts and minds of consumers wary of genetically altered foods.

In February Monsanto was fined £17,000 and ordered to pay £6,159 costs for failing to control an experimental field of GM crops.

This UK charge arose because it was deemed not to have taken the necessary steps to stop pollen from GM crops pollenating neighbouring fields.

A one year ban has been imposed on the commercial growing of GM food in the UK with environmental groups calling for it to be extended until more is known of its effects.

The backlash from consumers in Europe has led to a number of retailers, including supermarket chain Iceland, banning GM foods. ...

Alan Gubert, an agricultural journalist from the American Mid-West, says that shareholders are most concerned about the $20 fall in the stock during the past nine months.

He said: "I think Mr Shapiro will keep his job but there are a lot of questions to be asked."