Milk hormone committee 'is rigged'

April 1999

The international scientific agency charged with assessing the safety of the genetically engineered milk-boosting hormone rBST has been manipulated, according to a respected observer of the assessment process.

Dr John Verrall, a retired scientist with 35 years experience of the pharmaceutical industry has compiled a dossier on the proceedings of the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives, summarised in The Food Magazine, published today.

He accuses the agency of making judgements without a full appraisal of the research, of failing to publish their full findings, and of having committee members with interests in biotechnology companies, including Monsanto, the company making the synthesised hormone.