That is why we check as many knowledgable and trustworthy sources as we can before using our own specialist knowledge of the field to make a factual, balanced judgement on the information we have gathered. The science correspondent, Aisling Irwin, attended the press conference on Friday 12 February and the science editor became involved the following Monday. During the initial period, several concerns emerged. The new research had not been subject to peer review, nor had it been replicated. Given the muddle made by Dr Pusztai, an elderly scientist, the previous summer, it seemed prudent to be cautious.
Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.
It emerged that a shadowy environmental coalition organised the Friday press conference. On Sunday13 February, the science correspondent with Ben Fenton, a senior general reporter, discussed how there isno-one to trust over this issue. The 20 international scientists who backed Dr Pusztai turned out to be mostly obscure figures. And the lack of peer review was also mentioned. This scientific straw poll identified that the effects of GM crops on the environment was higher on the scientific agenda than their effect on health.