Jeffrey M. Smith (born 1958) is an American
consumer activist,
[(April 27, 2012]
New GMO crops proposed, consumers want labeling
''CBS News'', accessed December 16, 2012 self-published author, and former politician. He is the author of two books on genetically engineered foods, ''Seeds of Deception: Exposing Industry and Government Lies about the Safety of the Genetically Engineered Foods You’re Eating'', and ''Genetic Roulette: The Gamble of Our Lives'', which he made into a film in 2012. He has appeared twice on each of the shows -''
The Dr. Oz Show'' and ''
The Doctors''.
Smith has worked with
organic food marketers and
alternative health product promoters to advocate against
genetically modified food
Genetically modified foods (GM foods), also known as genetically engineered foods (GE foods), or bioengineered foods are foods produced from organisms that have had changes introduced into their DNA using the methods of genetic engineering. Gene ...
. Supporters identify Smith as an influential educator on the alleged risks associated with genetically modified foods, while others point out Smith's lack of formal scientific training.
In 1998, Smith ran unsuccessfully for Congress as a candidate for the
Natural Law Party
The Natural Law Party (NLP) is a transnational party founded in 1992 on "the principles of Transcendental Meditation", the laws of nature, and their application to all levels of government. At its peak, it was active in up to 74 countries; it con ...
. As of 2021, Smith is the executive director of the ''Institute for Responsible Technology'', and executive director of the global campaign ''Protect Nature Now''.
Early life
Jeffrey Smith grew up in
Rey Brook,
Westchester County
Westchester County is located in the U.S. state of New York. It is the seventh most populous county in the State of New York and the most populous north of New York City. According to the 2020 United States Census, the county had a population o ...
.
He has a bachelors degree from
SUNY Binghamton
The State University of New York at Binghamton (Binghamton University or SUNY Binghamton) is a public research university with campuses in Binghamton, Vestal, and Johnson City, New York. It is one of the four university centers in the State ...
and an MBA from
Maharishi University of Management
Maharishi International University (MIU), formerly Maharishi University of Management, is a private university in Fairfield, Iowa. It was founded in 1973 by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and features a "consciousness-based education" system that includes ...
in
Fairfield, Iowa .
Career
Political
Smith was a Natural Law Party member in 1996. In 1998 he became the party's candidate for
U.S. Congress
The United States Congress is the legislature of the federal government of the United States. It is Bicameralism, bicameral, composed of a lower body, the United States House of Representatives, House of Representatives, and an upper body, ...
in Iowa's First District to raise awareness about GMOs.
Smith received less than 1% of the vote, losing to Republican
Jim Leach
James Albert Smith Leach (born October 15, 1942) is an American academic and former politician. He served as ninth Chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities from 2009 to 2013 Pogrebin, Robin"Rocco Landesman Confirmed as Chairman of the ...
. Smith worked for several years as a marketing consultant and nonprofit marketing advisor.
Consumer activist
Smith has opposed the use of genetically modified foods since they were introduced in the 1990s.
As of 2000, Smith was the spokesperson and vice president for the accredited
genetically modified organism
A genetically modified organism (GMO) is any organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. The exact definition of a genetically modified organism and what constitutes genetic engineering varies, with ...
(GMO) testing company, Genetic ID. Smith authored the books ''Seeds of Deception'' in 2003 and ''Genetic Roulette'' in 2007. In 2012 Smith directed and produced ''Genetic Roulette'', a documentary film narrated by
Lisa Oz
Lisa Oz ( Lemole,Bruni, Frank ''The New York Times'', April 16, 2010 born July 20, 1963) is an American author and radio and television personality who has been an occasional co-host of '' The Dr. Oz Show''. She has appeared on the '' Oprah and ...
and critical of genetically modified food.
Smith is the founder and current executive director of the Institute for Responsible Technology.
A variety of American organic food companies see Smith "as a champion for their interests",
and Smith's supporters describe him as "arguably the world's foremost expert on the topic of genetically modified foods".
In contrast, others such as
Michael Specter
Michael Specter (born 1955) is an American journalist who has been a staff writer, focusing on science and technology, and global public health at ''The New Yorker'' since September 1998. He has also written for ''The Washington Post'' and ''The ...
, writing in ''
The New Yorker
''The New Yorker'' is an American weekly magazine featuring journalism, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons, and poetry. Founded as a weekly in 1925, the magazine is published 47 times annually, with five of these issues ...
'', reported that Smith was presented as a "scientist" on ''
The Dr. Oz Show'' despite his lack of any scientific experience.
Bruce Chassy, a molecular biologist and food scientist, wrote to the show arguing that Smith's "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."
Films
Director
* ''Hidden Dangers in Kids’ Meals'' (2008)
*''
Genetic Roulette: The Gamble of Our Lives'' (2012)
*''Your Milk on Drugs-Just Say No! (2013)''
*''Secret Ingredients'' (2018)
*''Don't Let the Gene Out of the Bottle'' (2021)
Featured
* ''
The World According to Monsanto'' (2008)
* ''Seeds of Death: Unveiling the Lies of GMOs'' (2012)
* ''
Scientists Under Attack: Genetic Engineering in the Magnetic Field of Money''
(2010)
Written work
Author
* ''Hard to Swallow: The Dangers of GE Food—An International Expose'' (2003)
* ''Seeds of Deception'' (2003)
* ''Genetic Roulette: The Documented Health Risks of Genetically Engineered Foods'' (2007)
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Jeffrey M
1958 births
Living people
American activists
Anti-GMO activists
Consumer rights activists
Iowa politicians
People from Fairfield, Iowa