The report says that a greater understanding of science and what modern analytical techniques can do would raise the level of the public debate in areas such as on food safety, consumer protection and the environment. Parts of the report will be worrying reading for those concerned about GM materials in foodstuffs. It says clearly that no proof of absence of modified DNA is possible. This is because the processing of foods can destroy the modified DNA to such an extent that no currently-available test is able to detect it. The more processed the food, the more difficult it is to say with any certainty that it was made from GM materials.
False negatives are all too easy to obtain, especially in processed foods.
The report emphasises that the best that can be assured is that the DNA in question is not present above a certain level. It adds that because of this, the food industry can only regulate itself at arbitrary and unenforceable levels. It is also critical of the variations between laboratories when testing for GM materials. But scientists do face a dilemma. Research into public attitudes to science suggests that telling the public about the detail of new technology does little to increase the society's confidence in it.