let's not have debate about science in the lead, its enough to say he has both supporters and detractors--plain and simple |
|||
Line 24: | Line 24: | ||
===Consumer advocate=== |
===Consumer advocate=== |
||
Before becoming an activist Smith was a marketing consultant.<ref name="Reuters 2008"/> In 1996 Smith began traveling around the world "to more than two dozen countries" to address political, physician and consumer groups |
Before becoming an activist Smith was a marketing consultant.<ref name="Reuters 2008"/> In 1996 Smith began traveling around the world "to more than two dozen countries" to address political, physician and consumer groups on the topic of genetically modified food.<ref name="Reuters 2008"/> His activities are reported to be "funded by speaking fees, book sales and donations."<ref name="Reuters 2008"/> As of 2000 Smith was the spokesperson and vice president for the accredited [[genetically modified organism]] (GMO) testing company, Genetic ID.<ref>{{cite news|last=Gersema|first=Emily|title=Farming industry, consumers leery of another biotech scare; 'Big motivator': USDAchanges how corn supplies are sampled|accessdate=Feb 13, 2013|newspaper=Telegraph-Herald (Dubuque)|date=May 20, 2001}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Brasher|first=Phillip|title=U.S. Investigates Use of Unauthorized Biotech Corn in Taco Bell Taco Shells.(Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News)|newspaper=Tribune Business News|date=Sept 19, 2000}}</ref> [[The Washington Post]] cited Smith's criticism of [[Michael Taylor]]'s 2009 appointment as a senior adviser for the FDA.<ref name ="Wash Post"/> In 2012 Smith produced ''Genetic Roulette'', a documentary film narrated by [[Lisa Oz]] <ref>{{cite web|last=Unkown author|title=Genetic Roulette|url=http://geneticroulettemovie.com/|publisher=The Institute for Responsible Technology|accessdate=Feb 13, 2013}}</ref> and critical of genetically modified food.<ref name="Sacramento Bee">{{cite news|last=Rosenhall|first=Laura|title=Safety of genetically modified foods is debated in California Read more here: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/10/31/173151/safety-of-genetically-modified.html#storylink=cpy|url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/10/31/173151/safety-of-genetically-modified.html|accessdate=Feb 13, 2013|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|date=Oct 31, 2012}}</ref> Smith is the executive director of the Institute for Responsible Technology and the director of the Campaign for Healthier Eating in America."<ref>{{cite news|last=Staff|title=Candidate Support Expected to Boost Non-GMO Brands.|accessdate=FEb 13, 2013|newspaper=Health & Medicine Week|date=Feb 4, 2008}}</ref> <ref>{{cite news|last=Unknown author|title=The Future of Food|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=July 3, 2004}}</ref> |
||
====Reception==== |
====Reception==== |
Revision as of 19:53, 13 February 2013
Jeffrey M. Smith | |
---|---|
Born | 1956 |
Nationality | American |
Education | Maharishi University of Management (formerly Maharishi International University) |
Occupation(s) | Consumer advocate, Author, politician |
Website | http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeffrey-smith/ |
Jeffrey M. Smith (born 1956) is an American consumer advocate,[2] author and politician. He is the author of three books on genetically engineered foods and has appeared twice on The Dr. Oz Show.[3] Smith's activism against genetically modified food and has been praised by organic food growers and criticized by biotechnology scientists.[1][3] In 1998, Smith ran unsuccessfully for Congress as a candidate for the Natural Law Party, which was closely associated with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and the Transcendental Meditation movement.[4]
Biography
Smith is a native of New York.[1] He attended the Maharishi University of Management from 1983–1986, where he studied business. Smith is a professional dance instructor and taught a dance workshop at University of Iowa as "Swingsmith" in 2002. He is one of the founding directors of a Fairfield, Iowa dance troupe called Swingphoria.[5][6][need quotation to verify] Smith was a Natural Law Party member in 1996 and participated in a TM-Sidhi program yogic flying demonstration in Des Moines, Iowa.[7] In 1998 he became the party's candidate for U.S. Congress in Iowa’s First District.[4] Smith received less than 1% of the vote, losing to Republican Jim Leach.[8] At campaign events, Smith presented charts which purported to demonstrate the effect of mass meditation and yogic flying on the crime rate in Washington, D.C..[9][need quotation to verify]
Consumer advocate
Before becoming an activist Smith was a marketing consultant.[1] In 1996 Smith began traveling around the world "to more than two dozen countries" to address political, physician and consumer groups on the topic of genetically modified food.[1] His activities are reported to be "funded by speaking fees, book sales and donations."[1] As of 2000 Smith was the spokesperson and vice president for the accredited genetically modified organism (GMO) testing company, Genetic ID.[10][11] The Washington Post cited Smith's criticism of Michael Taylor's 2009 appointment as a senior adviser for the FDA.[2] In 2012 Smith produced Genetic Roulette, a documentary film narrated by Lisa Oz [12] and critical of genetically modified food.[13] Smith is the executive director of the Institute for Responsible Technology and the director of the Campaign for Healthier Eating in America."[14] [15]
Reception
A variety of American organic food companies see Smith "as a champion for their interests."[1] A 2011 article in the News & Review described him as "arguably the world's foremost expert on the topic of genetically modified foods".[16] However, journalist Michael Specter wrote in the New Yorker that Smith, who was presented as a "scientist" in the Dr. Oz TV show, "has no experience in genetics or agriculture, and has no scientific degree from any institution". Specter cites academics who assert that Smith is unqualified to impart health information about GMOs, as "his only professional experience prior to taking up his crusade against biotechnology is as a ballroom-dance teacher, yogic flying instructor, and political candidate for the Maharishi cult’s natural-law party."[3] The director of the Organic Consumers Association says Smith is "respected as a public educator on GMOs" while "supporters of biotechnology" have described him as "misinformed and misleading"[1] and as "an activist with no scientific or medical background" who is known for his "near-hysterical criticism of biotech foods".[17]
Bibliography
Books
- Smith, Jeffrey M. (1981) Preventing legal malpractice, West Pub. Co, St. Paul, Minn.
- Smith, Jeffrey M (2003). Seeds of Deception: Exposing Industry and Government Lies About the Safety of the Genetically Engineered Foods You're Eating. Fairfield, IA: YES! Books. ISBN 9780972966504.
- Smith, Jeffrey M (2003). Hard to Swallow: The Dangers of GE Food – An International Expose. Nelson, New Zealand: Craig Potton. ISBN 978-1877333118.
- Smith, Jeffrey M (2007). Genetic Roulette: The Documented Health Risks of Genetically Engineered Foods. Fairfield, IA: YES! Books. ISBN 978-0972966528.
Filmography
- Smith, Jeffrey M. (2005) Dangers in Kids' Meals and Your Milk on Drugs —Just Say No! a DVD, Institute for Responsible Technology, Fairfield, ASIN= 0972966560
- Smith, Jeffrey M. (2012) Genetic Roulette the Movie, Institute for Responsible Technology, Fairfield, IA, ASIN= B0096DP4CG
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Gillam, Carey (March 7, 2008). "U.S. activist circles globe to fight biotech crops". Reuters UK.
- ^ a b "Monsanto petition tells Obama: 'Cease FDA ties to Monsanto'". Washington Post. January 30, 2012.
- ^ a b c Specter, Michael (February 4, 2013). "The Operator". New Yorker.
- ^ a b Slockett, Tom (November 3, 1998). "November 3, 1998 General Election". Johnson County Auditor Commissioner of Elections and Voter Registration. Retrieved Dec 16, 2012.
- ^ Unknown author (Feb 2002) Ballroom Dance Announcement Iowa State Education archives, accessed 12/14/12
- ^ U. Iowa: Is swing dancing coming or going? Depends who you ask, Reinstein, Leah, The daily Iowan (U. Iowa), pg. 5A, January 26, 1999.
- ^ 'Yogic flying,' third-party candidates promoted, Bush, Bill, The Illinois State Journal-Register (Springfield, IL), October 23, 1996.
- ^ Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 3, 1998, House of Representatives, January 3, 1999, page 16
- ^ Fringe Candidate's Gimmick: `Flying' Yogis, Associated Press, October 24, 1996.
- ^ Gersema, Emily (May 20, 2001). "Farming industry, consumers leery of another biotech scare; 'Big motivator': USDAchanges how corn supplies are sampled". Telegraph-Herald (Dubuque).
{{cite news}}
:|access-date=
requires|url=
(help) - ^ Brasher, Phillip (Sept 19, 2000). "U.S. Investigates Use of Unauthorized Biotech Corn in Taco Bell Taco Shells.(Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News)". Tribune Business News.
{{cite news}}
: Check date values in:|date=
(help) - ^ Unkown author. "Genetic Roulette". The Institute for Responsible Technology. Retrieved Feb 13, 2013.
{{cite web}}
:|last=
has generic name (help) - ^ Rosenhall, Laura (Oct 31, 2012). "Safety of genetically modified foods is debated in California Read more here: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/10/31/173151/safety-of-genetically-modified.html#storylink=cpy". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved Feb 13, 2013.
{{cite news}}
: External link in
(help)|title=
- ^ Staff (Feb 4, 2008). "Candidate Support Expected to Boost Non-GMO Brands". Health & Medicine Week.
{{cite news}}
:|access-date=
requires|url=
(help); Check date values in:|accessdate=
(help) - ^ Unknown author (July 3, 2004). "The Future of Food". The Irish Times.
{{cite news}}
:|last=
has generic name (help) - ^ "An interview with GMO expert Jeffrey M. Smith". Chico (CA) News Enterprise. September 15, 2011.
- ^ Entine, John (October 19, 2012). "Malpractice on Dr. Oz: Pop Health Expert Hosts Anti-GM Food Rant; Scientists Push Back". Forbes. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
External links
- Jeffrey Smith bio at the Institute for Responsible Technology
- Jeffrey Smith bio at the Seeds of Deception