SAY what he may, Tony Blair has done a U-turn on genetically-modified foods. But while the politicos may make a meal of this switch, consumers will welcome the change of tack for another reason - a government heeding their concerns.

True, it has taken them a while to follow the supermarkets and food manufacturers who were much swifter to spot the demand for GM-free products. Consumers have, after all, had too many food scares already to trust the scientists.

And now the political ingredient that has been added by Mr Blair is old-fashioned pragmatism.

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