Pusztai affair

The Pusztai affair is a controversy that began in 1998. Protein scientist Árpád Pusztai went public with unpublished research he was conducting at the Rowett Institute with genetically modified potatoes. He claimed that the GM potatoes had stunted growth and repressed the subjects' immune systems, while thickening their gut mucosa. He was severely criticized for making the announcement before the experiment was complete, much less peer-reviewed, and for the experiment's design, methodology and analysis. The study was eventually published, triggering further controversy. Pusztai was suspended and misconduct procedures were used to seize his data and ban him from speaking publicly. The Institute did not renew his annual contract.

Before 1995, no peer-reviewed studies had been published investigating the safety of genetically modified food using human or animal feeding trials. In 1995 the Scottish Agriculture Environment and Fisheries Department commissioned a £1.6 million three-year research study to assess the safety of genetically engineered Desiree Red potatoes. The potatoes had been developed by biochemist John Gatehouse at Cambridge Agricultural Genetics (later renamed Axis Genetics) and had recently completed two years of field trials at Rothamsted Experimental Station. The GNA gene from the Galanthus (snowdrop) plant was inserted into the potato, allowing the GNA lectin protein to be synthesised. This lectin has been shown to be toxic to some insects.

Twenty-eight studies were proposed, of which eight were selected for peer review by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. From these eight the Rowett Research Institute's proposal was chosen and a combined team of academics from the Scottish Crop Research Institute, the Durham University Department of Biology and the Rowett Institute was assembled, and coordinated by Pusztai.

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