The Royal Society, Britain's academy of scientists challenged groups claiming that genetically-modified foods are inherently unsafe to come up with evidence.

In two submissions to a GM science review, the scientists said the potential for GM ingredients to reduce nutritional quality in food or cause allergic reactions was "in principle" no different to that for non GM counterparts.

"Furthermore, there is no credible evidence that human health can be damaged by eating DNA sequences created by the genetic modification of ingredients," it said.

Royal Society Vice-President, Professor Patrick Bateson, said that it had not seen any evidence to contradict a review of GM plants and human health last year, which found that such foods were safe to eat.

"The public have a right to decide whether they want to buy GM foods, and are entitled to have access to sensible and informed advice, based on sound science," he said.

"It is disappointing to find a group like Greenpeace stating on its website that 'the risks are enormous and the consequences potentially catastrophic', without offering any solid reasons to support such a claim," he added.

Greenpeace said it had commissioned and published a report from the University of Wageningen in the Netherlands, which specialises in life sciences, on uncertainties and unknowns around GM crops.

The FoodFen survey question for May asks if UK farmers should grow GM crops. To vote, click here.