GM food concern hard to swallow

In attempting to lecture Europe, old or new, about its attitude to genetically modified food, presumably US President George W Bush had his tongue firmly in his cheek.

The president’s urging, almost instructing, Europe to end its opposition to GM crops so they could be used to combat famine in Africa strikes a discordant note.

Apart from the fact that Europe contributes seven times more to development aid than the US, a sceptical view would attribute his concern more for the welfare of multinational companies rather than the wellbeing of the starving millions.