Dr. Bruce Chassy, an ACSH advisor and professor emeritus of food and nutrition at the University of Illinois, was wary when producers for the Dr. Oz Show approached him about appearing on a recent episode about genetically modified food and California s Proposition 37. In the end, he had a family conflict and couldn t appear thankfully, it turns out. Dr. Chassy has written an open letter to two Dr. Oz producers to say he s appalled they gave a platform to a one Mr. Jeffrey Smith to spout anti-GMO nonsense:
Mr. Smith has no accredited or formal education in any health, nutrition, or other related science fields. Research into Mr. Smith s credentials reveals that 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. The fact that Mr. Smith was even allowed to appear on stage on a nationally broadcast television health-oriented program is hard to believe; hearing from my colleagues who did participate that Dr. Oz referred to Smith as a scientist during the program taping is an egregious misrepresentation.
Smith s claims about biotechnology have no basis in science and are contradicted by thousands of peer-reviewed studies over the past 30 years, Dr. Chassy writes.
ACSH s Dr. Ruth Kava congratulates Dr. Chassy for his forthright criticism of junk science on a popular TV venue. I wish that more scientists would follow Dr. Chassy s lead in making such complaints public. It s really scandalous that a supposed health show would promote such shady operators, she concludes.