Viewpoint: Here’s the wacky formula used by Environmental Working Group to stoke unwarranted fears about safe chemicals – Genetic Literacy Project

The EWG study, published in Environmental Research, is a model. Rather than actually measure serum levels of PFOs, the group merely measured the quantity of PFOs in a fish multiplied by the number of fish eaten in a week and calculated a serum level. All models simplify reality by making assumptions; the fidelity of those assumptions to the real world measures how well the model mirrors reality. Let’s look at some of EWG’s assumptions.The Dose Makes the PoisonThe pharmacokinetics of PFOs in humans remains, at best, unsettled science. The EWG study admits that “no direct measurements of PFOS absorption through the gastrointestinal tract have been conducted in humans”The EWG model, based on a chain of events, predicted that as more fresh-water fish was eaten, the serum level of PFOs would rise. There are two key assumptions in that chain that are problematic.no PFOS is removed through cookingthe PFO concentration in fresh-water fish is consistent and knownThe assumption that no PFOS are removed through cooking is wrong. As a study in Food Science and Nutrition reports, how fish is prepared does make a difference: Washing removed 74% of PFOs, while cooking provided other reductions — “grilling (91%), steaming (75%), frying (58%), and braising (47%) comparing to uncooked sample.”Yet the EWG authors claim,“The calculations within the present study…assume that cooking does not materially impact PFAS and that 100% of the PFAS measured in fillets will result in exposure and subsequently impact serum levels. This could potentially overestimate exposure” [emphasis added]They “knew“ this because the citation within the study suggests cooking seafood reduces PFAs by 29% based on a meta-analysis.In calculating our exposure of PFOs, the EWG needed to know the potential amount of PFOs contained in fresh-water fish. They made use of two EPA assessments, the National Rivers and Streams Assessment (NRSA) done every five years, and the 2015 Great Lakes Human Health Fish Fillet Tissue Study. There was a wide range of values in those datasets, as EWG writes,“Across both U.S. EPA’s datasets, the lowest total PFAS was 425 ng/kg and the highest was 286,767 ng/kg. The mean total PFAS was 20,870 ng/kg and the median was 11,880 ng/kg. … fish sampling from the Great Lakes Human Health Fish Fillet Tissue Study found overall higher levels of PFOS and total sum of detected perfluorinated compounds compared to the National Rivers and Streams Assessment.”
— Read on geneticliteracyproject.org/2023/05/10/viewpoint-heres-the-wacky-formula-used-by-activist-environmental-working-group-to-stoke-unwarranted-fears-about-safe-chemicals/

Viewpoint: ‘Activists and organizations spread lies about GMOs’ — Nobel laureate chides dogmatic political discourse, highlights decades of GMO’s safe use – Genetic Literacy Project

Misinformation about science, especially genetically modified crops, need to be dispelled and they should be adopted as it is backed by science, 1993 Nobel prize winner for physiology or medicine Richard J Roberts said on November 2.
— Read on geneticliteracyproject.org/2022/11/10/viewpoint-activists-and-organizations-spread-lies-about-gmos-nobel-laureate-chides-dogmatic-political-discourse-highlights-decades-of-gmos-safe-use/

Viewpoint: NY Times collaborates with Greenpeace in front page ‘hit piece’ targeting professor working to reduce the sustainability footprint of animal agriculture. Here’s his response – Genetic Literacy Project

There’s a shocking revelation out there, and I am at the heart of it. Are you prepared for this? Animal scientists work with animal agriculture. That’s it. That’s the exposé, the conspiracy that so many activists and journalists want to share with you.
— Read on geneticliteracyproject.org/2022/11/01/viewpoint-ny-times-collaborates-with-greenpeace-in-front-page-hit-piece-targeting-professor-working-to-reduce-the-sustainability-footprint-of-animal-agriculture-heres-his/

Viewpoint: Anti-GMO players, from Organic Consumers Association to Joe Mercola to Vandana Shiva, have formed an alliance to target GM crops. Here’s why this is good news for biotechnology and science supporters – Genetic Literacy Project

Alliances and networks is the new game plan among anti-GM activists. Recently, Organic Consumers Association [read GLP profile head Ronnie Cummins announced that his organization was joining with Joe Mercola at Mercola.com.
— Read on geneticliteracyproject.org/2022/10/25/viewpoint-anti-gmo-players-from-organic-consumers-association-to-joe-mercola-to-vandana-shiva-have-formed-an-alliance-to-target-gm-crops-heres-why-this-is-good-news-for-biotechnology-and-science/

Beliefs in Conspiracy Theories About GMOs Can Be Corrected Using the Right Information- Crop Biotech Update (September 21, 2022) | ISAAA.org

Beliefs in Conspiracy Theories About GMOs Can Be Corrected Using the Right Information- Crop Biotech Update (September 21, 2022) | ISAAA.org
— Read on www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp

Part II: Web of Disinformers: Carey Gillam, the network of anti-crop biotechnology activists, and the funders behind their campaigns – Genetic Literacy Project

Carey Gillam, once a reporter at Reuters covering food and farming, left her job under a cloud, challenged by her editors and criticized by scientists for aligning herself with biotechnology rejectionists.
— Read on geneticliteracyproject.org/2022/07/28/part-ii-web-of-disinformers-carey-gillam-and-the-network-of-anti-crop-biotechnology-activists-and-the-funders-behind-their-campaigns/

Part 1: Viewpoint — Anti-GMO activists conjure up new scare messages as their influence wanes – Genetic Literacy Project

It’s been ten years of downhill sledding for advocacy groups and activists campaigning to throttle the burgeoning biotechnology revolution transforming
— Read on geneticliteracyproject.org/2022/05/31/part-1-viewpoint-anti-gmo-activists-conjure-up-new-scare-messages-as-their-influence-wanes/

Viewpoint: ‘We are paying for genetic engineering bashing by groups that have used fear to put forward organic-centric diet’, says Canadian agri-food professor – Genetic Literacy Project

About 15 per cent of all calories on Earth come from wheat. Corn covers a lot of calorific ground as well. With Ukraine out, coupled with sanctions
— Read on geneticliteracyproject.org/2022/05/11/viewpoint-we-are-paying-for-years-of-genetic-engineering-bashing-by-groups-that-have-used-fear-to-put-forward-organic-centric-diet-says-canadian-agri-food-professor/

Propaganda films disguised as documentaries target farms | AGDAILY

At every turn there is a new food/farm “documentary” coming out with sensationalist titles like GMO OMG and Cowspiracy, targeting modern farming.
— Read on www.agdaily.com/lifestyle/propaganda-films-disguised-as-documentaries-continue-to-take-aim-at-agriculture/

Video: Despite enormous sustainability benefits, some people still view genetically engineered crops with suspicion. Here’s why – Genetic Literacy Project

Why do GMOs have an image problem? It’s a question we attempted to answer on the Oct. 13 episode of Seed Speaks.  A recent survey by the American
— Read on geneticliteracyproject.org/2021/10/29/video-despite-enormous-sustainability-benefits-some-people-still-view-genetically-engineered-crops-with-suspicion-heres-why/