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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0136.001 2008-2010Bio for Jeffrey M. Smith "'International bestselling author Jeffrey M. Smith is a leading 7spokesperson on the health dangers of Genetically Modified '"Organisms (GMOs). His globally respected research and magnetic communication style captured public attention in 2003 with his first book on the serious yet unknown side effects of genetically engineered foods, Seeds of Deception Exposing Industry and Government Lies about the Safety of the Genetically Engineered Foods You're Eating. Seeds of Deception became the world's best selling book on the health risks of GMOs and is credited with motivating changes in consumer buying habits to safer, non-GMO foods. In his second book, Genetic Roulette: The Documented Health Risks of Genetically Engineered Foods, Mr. Smith reveals insider documents about GMO safety trials Ghat are sure to evoke strong emotions in the reader. =Genetic Roulette shows how the world's most powerful Ag ~'Ibiotech companies bluff and mislead critics, Congress and x the FDA about food safety research for the products Americans buy everyday. Go to www.oeneticroulette.com to Mr. Smith has counseled world leaders from every continent, influenced the first state laws regulating GMOs and has united leaders to support The Campaign for Healthier Eating in America, a revolutionary industry and consumer movement to remove GMOs from the natural food industry. A popular keynote speaker, he has lectured in 25 countries and has been quoted by government leaders and hundreds of media outlets across the globe including, The New York Times, Washington Post, BBC World Service, Nature, The Independent, Daily Telegraph, flew Scientist, The Times (London), Associated Press, Reuters News Service, Time Magazine and Genetic Engineering News. Mr. Smith directs the Campaign for Healthier Eating in America from the Institute for Responsible Technology, where he is executive director. He is also the producer of the docu-video series, The GMO Trilogy and writes an internationally syndicated monthly column, Spilling the Beans. The Institute for Responsible Technology, www.resoonsibletechnologv.org, is a public education nonprofit that works on major public initiatives with scientists and concerned citizens from around the world, to shine a spotlight on the dangers of GMOs. Prior to founding the Institute, Mr. Smith was the vice president of marketing communications for a GMO detection laboratory and a consultant to leading industry groups and organizations. Mr. Smith has written extensively on the GMO issue for more than a decade. He lives with his wife in Iowa, surrounded by genetically modified soybeans and corn. The Institute for Responsible Technology fulfills its mission by: • Serving as the voice of non-GMO education to the media, trade organizations, government, business, consumers and international bodies. • Convening opportunities for non-GMO leaders to work together on key issues. • Promoting policies that enable grassroots community members to engage with public officials on a nonpartisan basis. • Supporting the development and dissemination of strategies to strengthen non- GMO volunteering, voting, giving, and other forms of citizen engagement. Comm. No. /'3G ~ / Ref. To: Pr ,a 'bta. Ref. Date read an excerpt. The Documented Health Risks of Genetically Engineered Food By Jeffrey M. Smith Executive Director Institute for Responsible Technology Author Seeds of Deception & Genetic Rou/ette FDA declares GMOs no different "The agency is not aware of any information showing that foods derived by these new methods differ from other foods in any meaningful ~~ or uniform way." "Statement of Policy" May 29, 1992 rooa a~a orgy nemmisvaro~ Agency scientists warned of: A//ergens ~ Toxins New diseases Nutritional prob/ems Who overruled the scientists? Michael Taylor • In charge of FDA policy • Former Monsanto attorney • Later Monsanto vice president First GM Crop FlavrSavr Tomato Rats refus to eat th ~ ~l-E~' _ (Y~ ~:-~ u, iaue _F ,F' After 28 days •7 of 20 rats developed stomach lesions •Another 7 of 40 died within 2 we~ek~s /ndusfry study ~~"^'~' ~ First possible cause of problems The process of creating a GM crop creates unpredicted changes in DNA and plant composition Unexpected changes in the DNA •MUtations (2-4% Of DNA) _ •Deletion of genes •Permanently on or off •AI[ered gene expressi~ (up t0 5%) DNA chances can alter: •Natural compounds Dr. Arpad Pusztai GM potatoes damaged rats (10 or 110 days) Rats developed • Potentially pre- cancerous cell growth in the digestive tract • Smaller brains, livers and testicles • Partial atrophy of the liver, and • Immune system damage Lance( 1999 A second cause of problems The protein produced by the inserted gene may be harmful Two rima traits • Herbicide tolerance (73%) Roundup Ready Liberty Link • Pesticide p~~iuction (18%) Bt toxin ~.. • Crops with both traits (8%) Bt-toxir.~f~,~ Industry claims '+ ~, Bt: ~ /~'Y J q 11 • Has a history of t. ~l " safe use • Is destroyed ~~ ~' during digestion ,~ ~ _= 'r • Is not active in r ~,. s-" mammals ~'` .i.. -..,'" ~,~ In reality •People react to Bt spray "; •Bt survives digestion "jt •Mice react to Bt-toxin ` ~rw 6 •Thousands of times more concentrated than the spray •Designed to be more toxic •Has properties of a known allergen Rats ate Bt corner ~ 0 days) Indicators for liver and kidney toxicity, blood pressure problems, allergies, infections or disease, higher blood sugar, and anemia Monsanto study Mice ate Bt corn`~~0~90 Multiple immune system responses Government oflta/y Nevembe~ 1008 ~; Mice ate Bt corm Increased infertility and lower birth weight Govemmen[ ofAUStria November 2008 f~~~. Bt cotto n~ Laborers in Indias'~° !+~~-=~ reported allergic~`,~°"" reactions to Bt cotton !"~ irk ~, ~~ r Upper respiratory Eyes Skin Overa// Bt sneezing watery itching burning fever . Spray runny nose red inFlammation asthma red, swelling some in hospital Bt sneezing watery itching burning fever Cotton runny nose red eruptions red, swelling some in hospital inousanas orsneep died after grazing on Bt cotton plants 3 sheep in each group A) Bollgard I B) Bollgard II C) Non-GMO GMO groups: •Reduction in tootl •Swelling lips, frothy salivation, nasal discharge •BUlging of head }~ •Slight fever dr~ ~ •700% mortality in 25-30 days dz r }tiJ ~4~~ cc xr f h ~~~ ~ ~ F ,,~~~ ~, r, +~ ~ f c ~~ r.. .2008 Buffalo (Haryana) • Eating Bt cotton seed & oil cake. • Reproduction Problems: - premature deliveries (majority), abortions, infertility. • Milk: Reduction in quality and quantity • Skin problems • Sudden death ,~r~~, ~~: il;;~,. Buffalo (Warangal) • Grazed on Bt cotton plants (1 day) • Sick and unconscious for 2-3 days • 13 deaths y ~;;~;€ 10 Post mortem ... Undigested food in rumen Does Bt toxin kill rumen bacteria? Bt corn re orts.. >, z ~< w ~ ..,.: -~" ~`~~-- ` 1 ~ 12 cows ~~ n " ~ 89 a ~~~~ ~ : ~ died on a r ~ .,t. ~ . German J ~, , f ` farm ~, chi ~+~~ ~ , w 11 rts.. Philippines: Inhaled pollen may have caused Illness YY ~r Sneezing, asthma U~'! ~- coughs, nose bleeds, swelling, fever, headache, stomach ache, dizziness, diarrhea, vomiting, weakness, and numbness 12 rn Deaths after consuming corn: • 9 horses • 4 buffalos • 37 chickens • 5 unexplained human deaths Third reason for problems The protein may be different than intended The transgene sequence may: Mutate or truncate Rearrange Be read differently Produce multiple proteins 13 The protein may; •Be folded differently •Have different molecules attached Mice had an immune response to G M Pea protein Agricultural Food Chemistry, 2005 Fourth possible problem More herbicide residues in herbicide tolerant crops 14 ore in herbicide tolerant crops million pounds more in the first 9 years ~us~ million pound increase in the next 2 years le year increase of 38% (2005-2006) ~e of 2,4-D was up 237% (2004-2006) Chickens fed Liberty Link corn died at tv~ice the rate ~~, Industry study L la~ ,try-~dJr .~,w. ~ S~v/v F' E3 lJ »y'^ r 1, A[ll~ ~ ~~ {! ~'. j•?I '. ~ ~~ v ~ Fifth ~' ` ` possible ~ ~ ,, f,~ ,~ ~ Gene problem a ~ t ; ,„~a ;; transfer to ' gut bacteri ! or j ` into our _, i DNA ii ,. ~. 15 l.'(! ~l ~./ g The Only Q. d ° ` Human ! "~ s Genes Feeding ~#?`i~~ ~~':~ transferred Study on ~~ ~ ~ ` to intestinal GM Crops 'i ` ~ € i~ bacteria ~tl ~, ,~ _, ~.. •Promoter ~ ~~ What car •Anti ~iotic resistant :~ transfer? mar er •Roundup Ready f~ ~ ,~ gene , §`at , •Liberty Link Gene ~~~. ti ~ is i •Viral gene ` ~"': ' •Bt gene ':, i ~,\ ~~ ti.f Evidence of GM soy- related problems 16 Soon after GM soy was introduced into the UK, soy allergies skyrocketed by 50%. York Laboratory Skin rick test ~~One patient had a positive skin test result to GMO soybeans only." A//ergy and Asthma Proreedings, 2005 Possib/e causes for increase a//ergies • More herbicide residues • Known allergen increased • Digestion enzymes reduced New potential allergen created • Roundup Ready protein may be allergenic • Roundup Ready protein produced inside us (continuously) 17 Mice and rabbits fed Roundup Ready soy Changes in livers, kidneys, pancreas, and hearts Mice livers Nepatocyte Nuclei 11j 'M1f 'y( 3' ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~c s t; "~, v= o ~^ `~. Control GM-fed Mice livers Nepatocyte Nucleoli A 4iv j~~l ~, l e a~ ~~ ~ ix:. ~ ~/ L. ~~T .. ~ r9~~ 5~,, l u~ y S.,~IfeL~~,,/~f~i~ ~ M3 y~ ~ t 1 ~'kl a~ ` Li L l~ph~ ~ R kr M.~i :. J'yJff.~'.. k ~9' ~ ~i ~y `'y?~1~~"yq"~Xw ~i ~~ ~' 1 ~ ~ ''1 ~'~ A'jjjp~~~)y~. \ L I ~h't~ ~~1'~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~~ } .i .. .L ~~k y~ ~ ~ A ~ Y ~ ~y ?i. ~ r" d-aFSFI ul~ ua ~ rd ";k ~ b 1 y. E,~ ~~ ,. ., Control GM-fed 18 Rat testicles Control GM soy fed d, ~ ~ - { ~, i ~ _ §`s. r I~IIC~ feCl Cil~l Sod/ Testicular cells had altered structure and function European7aurna/afHis[ochemislry, 2004 19 Offspring of Mice Fed GM Soy Young emb os from GM-fed decreasedrytegp erary expression In press Female rats fed GM soy 20 19-day old rats Larger rat is from control group; smaller from GM-soy group. Preliminary evidence Rat offspring did not conceive When the entire Russian facility began using GM soy-based feed, infant mortality for all rats hit 55.3%. 21 L-tryptophan produced by GM bacteria Killed about 100 and caused 5,000-10,000 to fall sick The epidemic was discovered because the disease I. Was new, with unique symptoms 2. Acute 3. Came on quickly 22 Incidence of 3 or more chronic diseases in the US 1996: 7% (GMOs introduced) 2005: 12% Current Assessments No post-marketing surveillance No human clinical trials No proper evaluation of plant changes or effects Approvals based on: •disproved or untested assumptions •industry studies GM risks: ata :- g/ante or • , in-depth °,~.,;<,;~~r,°r~;:r~a~~t,~ ~;~;,,, With 23 Jeffrey@ SeedsotDeception.~o~„ .ResponsibleTechnology, Z, 642,209, 2765 The Economic Advantages are Overstated American Corn Growers Association . GM corn caused a drop in corn prices by 13 - 20% . "An explanation is owed to the thousands of American farmers who were told to trust this technology, yet now see their prices fall to historically low levels while other countries exploit US vulnerability and pick off our export customers one by one." 24 US Government Subsidies . US government payments to farmers are up by $3 to $5 billion annually due to GM craps -Charles Benbrook, PhD, former executive director of the National Academy of Sciences' Board on Agriculture Canadian National Farmers Union ^ °GM crops do not deliver the promised benefits." ."The claim that GM seeds make our farms more profitable is false." 25 Reduced Farmer Profit ^ USDA: "could not find positive financial impacts" . "Adoption of Bt corn had a negative impact on net returns." GM Crops: Lower Average Yield . °GM crops do not increase the yield ... In fact, yield may even decrease ..." -US Department of Agriculture (USDA) 2006 . GM soy: 4-il% less yield . GM cotton failures and losses: US, Indonesia, and China . Brazilian soybean yields are down . Canadian Roundup Ready canola yields down 7.5% Contamination of Non-GM . In Canada, 32 of 33 certifed non-GM' canola seed stocks were contaminated. AgronomyJournal96, 2003 . Most of the non-GM soy, corn, and canola seed stocks tested in the US also contained GMOs. -Union of Concerned Scientists, 2005 26 Non-GMO Growers Suffer . Dropped market prices . Contamination . Costs for: . Segregation . GMO testing . buffer zones . separate storage and shipping . Or they are forced to market as GMO Indian farmer suicides linked to Bt cotton ,,rjM~, P Yr r~,, ~, 27 Conclusion: GMO contamination carries unprecedented irreversible dangers Ban all outdoor GMO field trials Alternative: Require companies to fund third parties, to: i. Measure plant & soil contamination 2. Monitor environmental impacts 3. Plan for extreme weather measures 4. Insure against contamination Continued... . Evaluate health properties of GMOs to be trialed . Protect health of field workers and nearby residents . Monitor and investigate adverse findings 1