GM foods kept off the menu at Westminster "The House of Commons Catering Service avoids, wherever identifiable, the procurement of foods that contain genetically modified organisms," the service said. To this end, as part of the tendering process, food suppliers are required to work to a strict GM organisms policy and give assurances that goods supplied be free from genetically modified materials. It added: "The decision to avoid GMs is seen as largely a matter of customer choice." The Commons" resistance to GM foods has come to light a day after Downing Street refused to say if the Prime Minister and his family would happily consumer food including GM ingredients. Mr Paterson today acknowledged that his argument for more use of GM technology faces stiff resistance because of deep public scepticism. He wants EU regulators to approve a long list of new GM crops, including herbicide-tolerant maize and sugar beet. Current rules mean that only when other European nations accept the case for GM will it be possible for Britain to use the crops more widely, he told the ConservativeHome website. He said: "I have to work closely the whole time with various allies, but it is a typical issue where there are terribly strong feelings in some member states. The last poll I saw in Germany 98 per cent of people are opposed to GM, so you have to really respect that. Mr Paterson's outspoken argument for GM technology has angered some campaigners and worried politicians who agree with him but fear his combative approach will be counterproductive. Lady Parminter, the Lib Dem spokeswoman for food, the environment and rural affairs in the House of Lords, said Mr Paterson runs the risk of being seen as "cheerleading for the GM industry."