Young scientists call on supermarkets to stop scaremongering
A group representing young scientists wrote an open letter to 10 supermarket chief executives calling on them to stop misleading customers about health risks.
The Voice of Young Science (VoYS) accused supermarkets of playing on unfounded fears about the health effects of consuming genetically modified (GM) foods, monosodium glutamate (MSG), parabens – a class of bacterial and fungicidal chemicals used as preservatives by the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries – and aspartame.
The letter was sent to Aldi, Asda, the Co-operative, Iceland, Lidl, Marks & Spencer, Morrisons, Sainsbury, Tesco and Waitrose.
The researchers claimed the supermarkets knew there was no evidence and negative claims were cynical marketing.
VoYS member Lucy Brooks said: “It seems Iceland’s decision not to sell GM products is based on customer demand. If science and logic are to prevail then change needs to start somewhere: first by supermarkets using evidence as the basis of their policies.”