Clegg urges cautious approach over GM crops and says he has never 'knowingly' fed his children 'Frankenstein' foods He said choosing GM foods isn't an issue as they're not readily available in the UK Mr Clegg's views are at odds with Environment Secretary Owen Paterson Just days ago Mr Paterson said that GM foods are safe and affordable Nick Clegg said he has never 'knowingly' fed his children genetically modified food, as he called for Britain to adopt a 'cautious' approach to the controversial crops. The Deputy Prime Minister's message was in stark contrast to Environment Secretary Owen Paterson, who just days ago said GM food was safe and affordable. Mr Clegg made clear he would not rush out to feed his sons genetically modified substances, which critics have called 'Frankenstein' foods. Reservations: Nick Clegg made clear he would not rush out to feed his sons genetically modified substances, which critics have called 'Frankenstein' foods No issue: Mr Clegg said that in practice the issue of whether to eat GM foods did not generally arise as they were not generally available in the UK Asked on his weekly radio phone-in on LBC 97.3 whether he would give his children GM food, the Lib Dem leader said: 'I don't knowingly feed my children GM food. 'I think what you have got to do on this very vexed issue is just always be led by the science, be cautious, take cautious steps, don't obviously take risks, particularly where people have concerns about contamination between GM crops and non-GM crops. I take science-based precautionary approach. I would never say 'no' for ever to new technologies - I don't think we should do that in life generally - but you have got to approach it cautiously. 'That is what the European Union has been doing for some years now,' Mr Clegg said. Different views: Environment Secretary Owen Paterson who just days ago said GM food was safe and affordable He said that in practice the issue of whether to eat GM foods did not generally arise as they were not generally available in the UK. 'To be honest I can't ever knowingly remember picking up anything in the supermarket, does this say whether it is GM or not. It is not the basis on which we feed our children. His remarks are at odds with the government's push to get the European Union to overturn its ban on the commercial growing of GM crops. Mr Clegg said: 'If you don't grow the stuff in the first place you can hardly feed it to your children.' But Mr Paterson said last week that GP crops were probably safer than conventional food and offer 'wonderful opportunities to improve human health'. Asked if he 'would feed his children a GM tomato' he said: Yes of course - because they are bound to have eaten it already. There is nothing new about the idea of a GM tomato because it is available as tomato paste, as derivatives that have got into some soya products which will almost certainly have had GM in them. Millions of British citizens will got to the supermarket in the course of this week, they will buy products where the animal has been fed GM feed. The Cabinet Minister said he wanted consumers to be able to walk into a supermarket and choose between organic potatoes or blight-resistant GM varieties. David Cameron has also said there is a 'role' for GM food. Last week, his official spokesman declined the repeated opportunities to say whether Mr Cameron would be prepared to eat them or considers them safe. His official spokesman said: 'The Prime Minister's view is that all food on shelves has to be safe. The scientific evidence must be examined properly.