Dr Arpad Pusztai claimed his research showed that rats fed on GM potatoes suffered ill effects but his work was savagely attacked by the scientific establishment. Now the Lancet is to publish some of the work, leading supporters of Dr Pusztai to claim he has been vindicated.
All prominent journals insist that research is thoroughly checked by other scientists.
However, the BBC understands that the paper does not confirm that the GM potatoes stunted the growth of rats. It does say the stomach lining of rats fed on GM potatoes are worse than those fed on a normal diet. The authors admit that this may not necessarily be because the potatos were genetically modified - it could be due to other differences in the potato. They told the BBC that once again the research was not properly carried out. Dr Pusztai came under fire in August 1998 when he made public his research, before it had been peer-reviewed.