Aventis Admits Growing Unauthorized GM Seed in UK Environmental News Service 11th October LONDON, United Kingdom, October 10, 2000 (ENS) - Biotechnology company Aventis admitted Monday that it had grown genetically modified sugar beet without permission at two trial sites in the United Kingdom. The company told the UK environment ministry that during routine destruction of the crops, it discovered a "tiny" amount - 0.5 percent - of unauthorized genetically modified (GM) beet line. "Aventis informed the government after discovering a background level of a second, unauthorized, herbicide tolerant GM beet line as part of the routine destruction of the crops," said a statement issued by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. "The company used this batch of GM seed at 10 small trial sites in England this spring. Only two of the sites showed evidence of the unauthorized seed. The trials are now finished and the sites have been cleared of all GM plant material," continued the statement. ...Aventis, already at the center of a public hearing over GM crops, faces investigation and possible prosecution by the government's Central Science Laboratory. The laboratory performs statutory inspections of trial sites and acts as the government's enforcement team on any releases of GM crops. Its preliminary report into this latest incident is expected next week. ...the use of genetic modification in agriculture and the food industry is currently the focus of intense public and political debate. Consumers, environmentalists and some scientists worry about risks to human health and the environment. Among their concerns are that GM crops could cause toxic or allergenic effects and large scale elimination of indigenous agricultural and natural species.