Jeffrey M. Smith | |
---|---|
Born | 1956 |
Nationality | American |
Education | Maharishi University of Management (formerly Maharishi International University) |
Occupation(s) | Consumer advocate, Author, politician |
Spouse | Andrea Vardi |
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 has worked closely with organic food growers to advocate against genetically modified food, although his arguments have been criticized by some scientists as relying on inaccurate or discredited scientific data.[1][3] In 1998, Smith ran unsuccessfully for Congress as a candidate for the Natural Law Party, which is 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. While Smith has been presented on television as a scientist, he does not possess any scientific degrees.[3] Smith is a professional dance instructor and taught a dance workshop at University of Iowa as "Swingsmith". He and his wife Andrea Vardi are 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 8% of the vote, losing to Republican Jim Leach.[8][need quotation to verify] 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]
Advocacy against genetically modified food
In 2003, Smith founded the Institute for Responsible Technology as a project of the Campaign to Label Genetically Engineered Foods (a.k.a. The Coordinating Council).[10] Smith's activism is focused against the use of genetically modified foods, and is funded through his speakers fees and royalties as well as by organic food companies who support Smith as a champion of their interests.[1]
Smith's supporters describe him as "arguably the world's foremost expert on the topic of genetically modified foods".[11] However, journalist Michael Specter wrote in the New Yorker that Smith, who was presented as a "scientist" in his television appearances, "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] Other critics have described Smith 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".[12]
Smith has appeared on TV and conducted interviews around the globe including Brazil, Poland and the USA.[1] He has spoken about the perceived dangers of genetically modified foods to the media and opposed the appointment of Michael R. Taylor as senior advisor to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2000.[13][14][need quotation to verify] In 2012 Smith appeared on The Dr. Oz Show.[12] In April he was interviewed by CBS News while attending the Green Festival in New York City, USA,[15] where he raised concerns about "GMOs resistant to 2,4-D" and said that "more than 20 states have introduced bills for mandatory labeling".[16]
Kaiser Permanente's Northwest Fall 2012 newsletter recommended the Institute for Responsible Technology's Non-GMO Shopping Guide iPhone App, 'ShopNoGMO'. [1] "Willamette Live", accessed Dec 23, 2012 </ref>
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 Gillam, Carey (March 7, 2008). "U.S. activist circles globe to fight biotech crops". Reuters UK.
- ^ "Monsanto petition tells Obama: 'Cease FDA ties to Monsanto'". Washington Post. January 30, 2012.
- ^ a b c d 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), January 26, 1999.
- ^ 'Yogic flying,' third-party candidates promoted, Bush, Bill, The Illinois State Journal-Register (Springfield, IL), October 23, 1996.
- ^ IA House Contested, Associated Press, November 2, 1998.
- ^ Fringe Candidate's Gimmick: `Flying' Yogis, Associated Press, October 24, 1996.
- ^ Institute for Responsible Technology & YES! Books, Academics Review, November 2012.
- ^ "An interview with GMO expert Jeffrey M. Smith". Chico (CA) News Enterprise. September 15, 2011.
- ^ a b Entine, John (Oct 19, 2012) Malpractice on Dr. Oz: Pop Health Expert Hosts Anti-GM Food Rant; Scientists Push Back Forbes, accessed Dec 16, 2012
- ^ Sowing dissent.(Brief Article), Coghlan, Andy, New Scientist, May 27, 2000, "critical consumer advocate, Jeffrey Smith, who campaigns against genetically modified foods".
- ^ INTERVIEW-GM seed case highlights need for testing, Reuters News, Diderich, Joel, May 31, 2000.
- ^ (April 27, 2012) New GMO crops proposed, consumers want labeling, CBS News, accessed Dec 16, 2012
- ^ (April 27, 2012) Genetically modified crops resistant to 2,4-D spur debate, calls for labeling CBS News, accessed Dec 19, 2012
External links
- Jeffrey Smith bio at the Institute for Responsible Technology
- Jeffrey Smith bio at the Seeds of Deception