When Journalists Say Really Stupid Stuff About GMOs

I've been arguing that the worst misinformation and myths about genetically modified foods has spread from the anti-GMO fringes to the mainstream. A jaw-dropping example of this is provided by Michael Moss, an investigative reporter for the New York Times, who was recently interviewed by Marcus Mabry, a NYT colleague about the Monsanto protests that took place last weekend. The interview lasts only a few minutes. Listen to the whole thing to fully appreciate its inanity. I've transcribed the exchanges that will blow your mind. MABRY: In Europe, genetically modified organisms are actually banned. In the United States, quite decidedly they are not. Why that difference? MOSS: I have family in Europe. They've been talking to me about GMOs for years and years. I think they decided that even though there is no hard science showing long-term health problems with GMOs, they also point out that the research really hasn't been done. So for them the glass is half empty, rather than half full. They're saying, 'look, until proven safe, we're gonna, like, avoid this stuff.' You gotta love it when an investigative reporter listens more to his family than to what scientists say. As I've done before, I'll quote from University of California plant geneticist Pam Ronald's article in Scientific American: