From Alan Boobis
You reported the decision by the journal Food and Chemical Toxicology to withdraw a paper that linked GM maize to cancer in rats (7 December, p 7). Retraction of a scientific article should always be a last resort. Even when inconclusive, an article can contribute to scientific discourse on a topic.
However, there are instances where the conclusions of a paper significantly overinterpret the findings, as was the case here. This is particularly problematic when the subject of the paper is of considerable public and media interest, and so I believe the journal acted responsibly and appropriately in reaching its decision.
London, UK
professor of biochemical pharmacology, Imperial College London
