This book raises some valid concerns, and seems to document quite of bit of what can only be called corruption in the 80's and 90's in e.g. the FDA.

But, again and again, the appeal to emotion over reason... ugh. Again and again, the dangling indictment: "X says Y. But X once worked for Z..." A version of the genetic fallacy... how appropriate. Ugh. And the 'slam dunk' proofs of at least a handful of things haven't aged well. I went and looked into the Arpad Pusztai affair, and it sounds like his research really was incomplete (e.g., a lack of controls... which is pretty f'ing serious... especially someone the book represents as being something like an unimpeachable expert.) Ugh. And the hating on Golden Rice hasn't held up. The technology --the food-- keeps improving... which, to put it a tad harshly, is what happens when people work on something rather than bitch about it.

Sigh.

Again, some entirely valid issues raised. And the book was actually quite readable, which doesn't hurt. So two stars. ( )

Well written and easily understood book that illustrates the industry and government lies, coverups and intimidation regarding the safety of genetically modified food. ( )

Seeds Of Deception - Exposing Industry & Government Lies About The Safety Of The Genetically Engineered Foods You're Eating by Jeffrey M. Smith is a relentless foray into the veil of deception obfuscating genetically modified food that has been cast by Big Biotech companies like Monsanto & Co.

Smith catalogues countless examples of the many issues that genetic engineering of organisms is fraught with.

The book is chock-full of hundreds of data points that eviscerate the conventional narrative in very incisive ways.

A snippet into some of the inherent issues that plague genetically engineered foods mentioned in the book involve code scramblers, messing up the host's normal DNA, horizontal gene transfer and antibiotic resistance, gene silencing, environmental influences, turning on your genes, waking sleeping viruses, cancer and more safety issues that are highly unknown in society.

Regarding cancer, in fact, Smith elaborates:

"The CaMV light switch and other viral promoters used in GM crops can also activate other, non-viral genes in species where it "happens to be transferred," says Ho and others. "One consequence of such inappropriate over-expression of genes may be cancer." Stanely Ewen, one of Scotland's leading experts in tissue diseases, agrees. He says that CaMV promoter "could affect stomach and colonic lining by causing a growth factor effect with the unproven possibility of hastening cancer formation in those organs."[1]

Not only are the health issues involved with genetically modified organisms [GMOs] detailed at length, but the author goes beyond that to cover the downright corruption that is taking place between Big Biotech and government as best exemplified by the revolving door between Monsanto and the FDA. Coupled with that is the fact that many of the scientists that are working behind the scenes are also board members of Big Biotech companies in a classic conflict of interest scenario.

In fact, FDA corruption was so bad that hundreds of scientists either quit or retired.

Detailed below:

"FDA veterinarian Richard Burroughs described the changes he saw. "There seemed to be a trend in the place toward approval at any price It went from a university-like setting where there was independent scientific review to an atmosphere of "approve, approve, approve." He said, "the thinking is, 'How many things can we approve this year?' Somewhere along the way they abdicated their responsibility to the public welfare."[2]

FDA corruption is actually trenchantly detailed throughout the length of the book.

Not only that, but as Smith soberingly mentions:

"Research in the Journal of American Medical Association revealed that study of cancer drugs funded by non-profit groups were eight times more likely to reach unfavorable conclusions as the studies funded by the pharmaceutical companies. Or consider the case of the genetically modified sweetener aspartame: About 165 peer-reviewed studies were conducted on it by 1995. They were divided almost evenly between those that found no problem and those that raised questions about the sweetener's safety. Of those studies that found no problem, 100% were paid for by the manufacturer of the sweetener. All of the studies paid for by non-industry and non-government sources raised question. The manufacturer of the sweetener, by the way, is GD Searly, which was a wholly owned subsidiary of Monsanto during that period."[3]

Moving forward, a very much appreciated portion of the book comes at the end of it. Smith makes it a point to outline many of the resources available to individuals in regards to this disturbing topic. That just might be worth the price of the book alone given the many dangers inherent therein.

Regardless, even without that, the book showcases extensive evidence of GMO dangers that individuals should be cognizant of. This book helps individuals view what the reality is regarding this propaganda-laden topic. Not only that, but evidence continues being amassed that only buttresses Smith's concerns.

The question is now, what will you as an individual do about it?

_____________________________________________________________________
Sources:

[1]Jeffrey M. Smith, Seeds Of Deception, pg. 65.
[2]Ibid., pg. 142.
[3]Ibid., pg. 41-42. ( )

A good book, but quite depressing. What is depressing is not really the possible health issues related to GMO's, although this should be a concern, but rather the indication of how money and political power have determined how GMO's have been introduced into the American diet - usually without consumer knowledge and without diligence from responsible authorities. ( )