Reply #3: Thank you, what are we fightin' for. We're with DR. OZ on this one.

[proverbialwisdom]

You've got to hear his intro before you read this pathetic attempt at misdirection and obfuscation.

http://scienceblogs.com/tomorrowstable/2010/12/dr_oz_prescribes_non-gmo_diets.php

...I did my best to refute the worst "woo woo pseudoscience" but it was difficult. I asked the producers (who were very nice by the way) to remove the scary graphics and bullet points but no luck. I argued that showing that stuff would tarnish Dr. Oz's reputation and harm his viewers (who are now probably terrified- I can just imagine my mother-in-law taking note on all the "points" made).

I had a chance to plug some great science-based, academic, non-profit sites (bioforitifed,org, ucbiotech.org and academicsreview.org) but all of my case specific examples (reduced insecticide use in GE cotton fields, enhanced biodiversity, disease resistant papaya, Golden rice) were cut from the TV version. I guess the producers did not want to mix too much scientific evidence in there with the fantastical stuff.

The show demonstrates yet again that as scientists, we cannot dismiss the general anxiety about genetic engineering, and the distrust of science and scientists in general.