To FDA regulators who decide which studies to dismiss or ignore, we say that if a study manages to struggle out of the scientific community without industry funding, it merits close examination and should be weighed seriously by regulators. Funding sources of both researchers and peer reviewers should factor into the equation when regulators weigh and balance conflicting findings. Some were presented June 17 at the National Summit on the Hazards of Genetically Engineered Foods. When FDA representatives were handed 500,000 signatures on petitions for labels on genetically engineered foods. FDA is also considering phasing out labels of irradiated food.
Prudent consumers deserve the right to weigh all evidence for themselves.
Such evidence should include the funding of studies that form the science base of regulatory decisions, and the financial ties of the advisors who evaluate them. Only then can they make informed choices. Barbara Keeler writes about health and the environment in news articles and in nutrition, health, science, and social studies textbooks.