NEVER one to side-step controversy, Environment Secretary Owen Paterson has condemned opponents of GM food as “wicked”.

He said: “Young children in developing countries are being put at risk by people opposing modifying crops, which may have elements added to provide vital nutrition.

Opposing food such as golden rice, which has added Vitamin A, to help combat blindness and save lives, could leave children to die.

Mr Paterson criticised members of the anti- GM lobby, which includes campaigners such as Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth, saying: “It’s just disgusting that little children are allowed to go blind and die because of a hangup by a small number of people about this technology.

“ I feel really strongly about it. I think what they do is absolutely wicked.

“Campaigners are scuppering crucial nutrition programmes across the world. But opponents say GM foods contribute to intensive farming practices and pesticide use that are environmentally damaging. They also say GM foods will not tackle problems facing agriculture or deliver secure food supplies for the world's growing population and the only benefits are for the big businesses that develop the technology.

Mr Paterson said he had never been told of a single health problem connected to GM farming, despite there being 17 million farmers across the world working on 170 million hectares – an area seven times the size of the UK.

Earlier this year Mr Paterson said GM crops have the potential to save lives and improve the environment. He claims the scrutiny of the crops could lead to them actually being safer.