The Unfortunate Truth About GMOs | Genetically Modified Foods

[@anadrawslife7244]

I love that saying. My chemistry teacher in college always said “just because it’s natural doesn’t mean it’s safe and healthy. Cyanide is natural occurring yet it’ll kill you.”

[@TheKillerqueen40]

See also: bear attacks. Very natural. Also very bad for you!

[@elizaalmabuena]

Oxygen is a known carcinogen, not only natural but also necessary for our survival.

[@KBRoller]

Black widow venom: natural. Chloromycetin and cresomycin: artificial.

[@skz5k2]

CN is the third most common molecule in the Universe, after H2 (a really flammable gas) and CO (another toxic gas)

[@kathyd2269]

And digitalis!

[@necrophobya]

I did my PhD on CRISPR Cas9. Not the application, but figuring out how the protein works on a molecular level. The number of people telling me it was evil, when it's so much more precise than older ways to edit the genome or cross breeding.. thanks for using your platform to educate people about this

[@Pork98]

It's illegal, in most places in the U.S. (IIRC) to use this method for genetically engineering crops. However, you can irradiate crops in order to modify them.

[@necrophobya]

@Pork98 which is quite ridiculous, because irradiating means you cannot control the changes that happen at all. Europe now marks Cas9-edited products as GMOs, although in terms of risk and predicyability, they are wildly different

[@nygreenguy]

nice! I worked with the group that introduced a gene for blight resistance in the American Chestnut. They are still facing regulatory hurdles.

[@Pork98]

@@manuelsegundomarquez7093 Personlly, I think that people are stupid to be afraid of gene editing, but that's just my opinion

[@Elite7555]

People are quick to judge anything they don't (want to) understand.

[@lovedragons1961]

As a retired farmer, I love that you addressed this topic. Not many people really know what GMO really is, many foods are GMOs in one way or an other. I have tried to explain when I hear people talk bad about GMOs because I was a farmer and proud of being one.

[@smnbrgss]

A great example to use would be corn from colonial central and South America vs the cobs of corn we have today

[@lovedragons1961]

​@@smnbrgss, lol, There wouldn't be enough kernels on the cob to make half a meal with. Let them try eating the corn from way back, that was half the size. We wouldn't have enough food for everyone. Carrots would still be purple. Farmers have alot of rules and regulations we have to follow to make food safe for eating.

[@LoFiAxolotl]

@@smnbrgss a great example would be Oranges.... Oranges are a fruit that is man made... it's a cross between apples and pamplemouse that does not exist in nature

[@linuxares]

If they knew about the humble lemon. It were selective breeding that made the lemon. It didn't exist as its own fruit until people started to cross citrons and bitter orange.

[@aurorat7633]

@lovedragons1961 hi! My reserve to GMOs is more on the longevity of the crops. As far as I have read, the speed of growth is also aligned with the speed of the impact to the soil. Which results in faster deforestation of the land, as it becomes unstable sooner. Did you find that while growing these crops?

[@claireful]

I love how people who pimp crappy unregulated supplements are horrified by GMOs. Thanks for this video. I’ll be sending it around a lot.

[@DukeGMOLOL]

!!!!Bravo!

[@CharGC123]

I respect Dr Mike but he is missing some key facts. We may have been selectively breeding varieties of plants for a long time, but that is totally different than adding selected genes from totally different species! And unlike what Mike said, most GMOs aren't better or more productive, they are just Frankenstein organisms modified to be resistant to dying from the same herbicide, glyphosate the company produces... so farmers can just spray lots more of it indiscriminately to kill weeds without killing the crop. Seems innocuous enough because it kills using the shikimate pathway which affects plants and bacteria, not people... unfortunately it DOES murder the microbes in our microbiome, and was in fact first patented as an antibiotic! Trusting the FDA, whose "research" and funding comes from the same commercial industry, is like the fox guarding the hen house.

[@DukeGMOLOL]

@@CharGC123 A mostly false comment GC123.

[@dsndicmsa7141]

@@CharGC123 lol you do realize non gm herbicide resistant crops resistant to herbicides much more toxic than glyphosate existed for decades before gm crops were conceived?

[@flwrs_sr]

@@CharGC123Companies using GMO technology to be able to spray more pesticides is a problem with the application of the technology, not an inherent flaw of the technology itself. I also don’t like the use of GMO technology to use more pesticides and herbicides, but recognize the potential of bioengineering to reduce input requirements while enhancing nutritional value and climate resilience. It would be more useful to criticize the application of GMOs to increase pesticides and herbicides rather than demonize the technology as a whole, especially when it could be such a powerful tool in creating desperately-needed sustainable food systems. As our climate changes, we absolutely need to leverage GMO tech to create crops that require less water and can resist pests and disease without added inputs. But the fear mongering surrounding GMOs has widely prevented this application, while enabling companies who create pesticide and herbicide resistant GMO crops to operate with relatively little criticism wrt to their application of the tech.

[@mewsicalelf]

Daughter of a molecular biologist who has dedicated his life to the development of GMOs - THANK YOU!! This video might be unpopular and unsuccessful because of the current overwhelming misinformed public opinion, but I’m refreshed to read through all these supportive comments that show we can move forward and make a change when it comes to the GMO stigma ❤

[@amethyst1062]

Yes, I’ve just been educated

[@angelitomasalta869]

When will your parents make plants bear meat fruit

[@mewsicalelf]

@@angelitomasalta869 lol dad is retired now, so GM meat plants in his future

[@curiousbystander9193]

I am sorry your perspective has obviously been religiously pushed upon you

[@cadenkolesar48]

People won’t eat gmo foods but will eat fast food, that’s crazy

[@Chuck_EL]

Or ones who put botox in their skin which is proven to haven really bad toxins in them that can be lethal But trying to have delusional standards of beauty isnt as harmful as GMOs to them

[@mcjess9843]

Generally if someone is against GMO foods they eat minimal fast food. At least in the circles I run.

[@AngelFoxxoJP]

@@mcjess9843 That's likely the ones who are heavily against GMOs. Those who have the random feeling that it's not safe and don't spend hours trying to ensure their entire diet is made of so called 'safe' foods are plenty likely to go to fast food.

[@MonkeyJedi99]

I love the GMO labels. They help me find what I want to eat.

[@MxPotato84]

People that go to farmers markets to buy produce thinking the food there is as natural and organic as it was back in the 1800’s don’t know what the O in GMO means. 🤣

[@philippak7726]

I'm a layperson who has never minded GMOs except in ONE context, and that is when a company engineers seeds and patents them. I'm looking at YOU Monsanto. The one who sued people when their crops got cross-pollinated by their plants and were successful, despite the farmers having no reasonable way to stop the bees pollinating both. They also engineer them so they aren't fertile or don't self-seed, so they can keep people reliant on them as a seed distributor. THAT is the only issue I have with GMOs

[@AzzedineBouleghlimat]

Yeah, these business practices are one of the two real issues that I have - the other being Monsanto's heavy development in glyphosate resistant crops to encourage the use of glyphosate (which they created) in weed management which given that we no know is pretty horrible stuff that causes cancer is a big problem. It's funny, the crops themselves have no evidence of causing any harm, but the glyphosate is very bad for the workers exposed to it (though I don't know if there's any direct risk to the consumer). I think an awful lot of the PR issues can be laid at the feet of Monsanto since they are the figurehead for these issues that weaken support within the groups that would ordinarily be pro-GMO. I think that anything that improves efficiency in agriculture is very important, but the IP issues do not make agriculture better it just allows these huge corporations take ever larger cuts of the whole industry and the glyphosate resistance was to encourage a dependence on that herbicide to ensure farmers kept buying it - enriching Monsanto and the other big corporations, without benefiting the rest of the industry enough to justify it.

[@elizabethwitt2621]

Yep. That's a big issue because Monsanto is number one in bioengineered food. They also want to patent food like tomatoes and wheat so they can actually own all the food. They fight against your right to buy heirloom seeds. I urge everyone to read how Monsanto has destroyed the lives of so many farmers in the US and in third world countries.

[@philippak7726]

@@elizabethwitt2621 I know at least one country (or province maybe?) turned down their "food aid" at one stage, preferring to struggle through a famine rather than get dependent on patented seeds

[@PeteQuad]

Except no farmer has to buy their seed from Monsanto, so I don't know why I should care that there are more choices out there, and if a farmer thinks the new seed is worth it, who am I to say they are wrong?

[@philippak7726]

@@PeteQuad because they are trying to force out other seed sellers and make it harder and harder to source from anyone other than themselves.

[@kaiserhhaie841]

I'm from Germany and a common topic in high grade english classes was GMO's and I can remember some very weird arguments about naturality being made, where those of us that were in AP Biology just rolled out eyes because we had actually discuseed GMO's and the science behind it in detail. It's great to get some more clarity and specifics about this topic again, very informative! Thanks Mike!

[@DukeGMOLOL]

!!

[@MNkno]

Good for you! Actual discussion of GMOs and the science behind it is healthy and good. The EU has a history of banning substances it has determined to be unhealthy, while those same subtances are in use in the U.S. It is reassuring to consumers in Japan to see the EU's actions, and there is more discussion of the science behind GMOs here than in the U.S. (It doesn't help that videos like this tend to pick the least scientific commentators to "prove" there is no problem with GMOs.. Just because some commentators are making stupid arguments does not mean that there is nothing wrong.)

[@DukeGMOLOL]

@@MNkno You wrote, "The EU has a history of banning substances it has determined to be unhealthy, while those same subtances are in use in the U.S." What are those substances? You wrote, "Just because some commentators are making stupid arguments does not mean that there is nothing wrong." Ok, exactly what is wrong with GMO crops?

[@Dudelzack]

@@DukeGMOLOL (Also from Germany btw.) "What are those substances?" - I'm a fishkeeper, I can name at least a dozen meds (e.g. Praziquantel and some other dewormers) that were in use for ornamental fish until 2013 when the EU has changed from being unregulated to prescription drug status and some are completely banned. Reasoning: EU standards do not make a difference between ornamental and food fish, bred for consumption. That's unfortunate and putting owners of home aquaria sometimes in dire situation. Another thing is Antibiotics. I'm not sure about the status in the US right now, but last time I checked you got antibiotics for fish over the counter no questions asked and without prescription. Besides the fact Erythromycin can be used by humans too, unchecked and probably not indicated use of antibiotics can breed resistant pathogens that will ot respond to that antibiotic anymore. We already have strains of fish pathogens that have become untreatable. Because of that they are all on the mandatory prescription lists here. And to be honest: While I find it a crying shame the dewormers are not available anymore because many fish die because they can't be medicated, I'm pretty glad antibiotics do not go over the counter anymore in friggin pet stores. I have only minor problems with GMOs and that is when (as somebody above commented) they crosspollinate/-breed with other variants or even wild plants/animals, contaminating the genepool on which we rely to draw "landrace" genetics to freshen up long lines of line- or inbreeding. Also if a GMO version of a species should by chance be able to replace a wild species, that would be a genetic bottleneck said species might not survive. Otherwise it's just the legal mumbojumbo mentioned, when companies patent genomes, that grinds my gears.

[@curiousbystander9193]

glycan binding lectins is not black and white gut chemistry, yet sold to as gras....via cry1

[@aavakainen]

Plant production scientist here (not working with GMO issues or even breeding but familiar with the technology). Thank you for using your influence to shed light to this misunderstood matter!

[@bobowon5450]

not every GMO is made equally but a lot of people assume gmo means that its some sort of toxic mutant food like you'd see in a fallout video game. In reality a lot of times GMO are food that have more nutrition, more resistant to bugs, because they're more resistant to bugs they can be healthier to eat.

[@AlexRocks80s80s]

Eating bugs are the future

[@bluedrgnMethy]

Right? It gives vibes of a weird sci-fi experiment when that’s not what GMOs are

[@rahmadrenaldi2624]

to be fair. if insects aren't eating it, then why should human do ?

[@jamesmcgill3268]

@@rahmadrenaldi2624well because human are not insects?

[@rahmadrenaldi2624]

​@@jamesmcgill3268yeah but we do eat the same food right? at least for the same diet, insect can be used for early detection. it's the same as using rats as test subjects.

[@wulfsbane4426]

As a farmer's son, I've been saying this stuff for years! Thank you, Mike.

[@flarethetitanpea5358]

I read that in a Texan accent, while starting with "y'know"

[@hasanmuttaqin464]

​@@flarethetitanpea5358i can't unheard it now

[@Anyone-but-him]

I have worked with farmers for 20+ years to try and grow the best quality crops they can with a yield that will provide excellent on their investment. I have never met a single farmer who didn't want to do right by the people there crop was going to feed and care for the environment that made their crop possible in the first place. People need to give folks credit and understand there are lots of good people out their trying to make sure we have something safe and healthy to eat every day

[@wulfsbane4426]

@@Anyone-but-him It's especially important when it doesn't just end up on the public's plate. Too many people just narrow the situation down to one thing. GMO isn't some conspiracy to poison your food. It's great to see understanding in people like you.

[@Dancky2]

​@@Anyone-but-himfarmers are under the thumb of Monsanto and they don't get to choose many of their seeds. Get real, they have to follow whatever big food tells them so it doesn't matter what their intentions are.

[@shakira_2603]

Finally we have a doctor who really talks about it. As a student of biotechnology, we have been studying about it in almost every course, like agriculture biotechnology. I always saw people talking about ethical issues, not even realising the benefit it brought in our lives. Thank u Mike 😊

[@DukeGMOLOL]

!!

[@QuotationCandles]

Dey play

[@steveself9314]

Genetically modifying, bioengineering, or "GMO"ing foods means that mutated or manmade strains of pathogens like e coli and bacillus thurgiensis (spellcheck) are designed to be present in every cell of the growing plant/"food" and then it's further poisoned by the roundup which is in part the Agent Orange recipe. If you believe that this is okay or good for you, you're doomed and causing the problem. Grrrrrrr

[@victoriae725]

I've been preaching this for YEARS. If only people would do their research before taking emotional stances on issues. 😢

[@JasonICECarson]

The problem with people "doing their own research" is that a lot of the "info" can come from misleading sources. I'd rather get my info from credible sources like Dr. Mike or someone who doesn't spread the bs.

[@shakeyj4523]

@@JasonICECarson Correct. People need to be taught to "do their own research" properly, and to evaluate research and information. I got lucky and was taught that early in my college education, but most aren't. That is the real problem. If you don't know how to weed through all the information out there, I can kind of understand why people get sideways. After all, the ones with an agenda are better at grabbing attention than actual peer reviewed research is. I tell people, if you have to guess, boring is better.

[@Silverizael]

@@JasonICECarson Yeah, just googling is going to bring up trash sites like Natural News and Mercola.

[@LoFiAxolotl]

it's the anti-vax mentality that's in fashion.... was the same with MSG, Gluten, Sugar.... people need something to be scared about.... processed food is just as silly of fear tactic...

[@germscamacho8362]

You should read Vandana Shiva then and not a biased KZbin video of someone trying to ridiculise a point.

[@jonathanstern5537]

Golden Rice baby! Probably the most successful GMO ever created, it was rice bread to be dense in nutrients (particularly vitamin a I believe) and resistant to drought. It was created to reduce starvation and malnutrition in India, and it worked… incredibly well.

[@kaitlinphilipp87]

@jonathanstern5537 Genuinely curious, could you point me to where you got this information about the success of golden rice? My basic google search didn't turn up anything concrete and my understanding of this for years has been that the rice was caught up in research setbacks and bureaucracy purgatory and just hasn't been widely implemented yet. I would be excited to know if things have changed.

[@GeorgeTheIdiotINC]

@@kaitlinphilipp87 This was the first paper I found on a reputable scientific journal so it may not be entirely perfect but there are plenty of other documents discussing everything from the process that was used to make it the exact gene modifications applied (not all of them cause Monsanto gotta make their money somehow) and much more doi: 10.1073/pnas.2120901118

[@theoakesbabies6446]

Agricultural and Organic agriculture professor and researcher here! Thank you for this video!!! Very well explained! This is exactly what I always tell my students, friends and family, but still a lot of people choose not to believe the science! It’s so frustrating! Hopefully you can spread awareness about this important topic to your followers. I always like to say, I have nothing against organic food… but mostly you are paying a premium for that item due to the highly increased cost of production… thank you!!!

[@DukeGMOLOL]

Bravo!!

[@talyahr3302]

How do I shop for food based on the least amount of pesticides? I shop organic to avoid pesticides but this video just made me insecure again.

[@DukeGMOLOL]

@@talyahr3302 You don't need to shop for the food with the least pesticide, all of our crops are safe from a pesticide residue standpoint. Organic farmers spray pesticides too. Regards.

[@nogerboher5266]

US and western EU countries have the WORST, by far the WORST fruits and vegetables I have EVER tasted... They are so bland in taste that they are almost tasteless and the little taste that is there, is absolutely hideous, which is confirmed to be a direct result of HEAVY pesticide use... Also, there's a certain, non-natural/artificial-like taste that you can taste in both their vegetables and fruits, which I'm guessing comes either from HEAVY, HEAVY pesticide use OR as a result of the unnatural process of genetic modification, whatever the case is, point of the story is that GMO fruits and vegetables have been labeled AS A HEALTH RISK by Japanese scientists - and in case you didn't know, when it comes to food and drinks, Japan has the most strict and best scientists/regulations in the entire world. (And Japanese are not only the healthiest nation on the planet but also have the healthiest foods on the entire planet on top of that) so if Japanese scientists say GMO's are a HEALTH RISK, then they are a health risk, period...

[@animeaunty]

But I think some of his statements about GMOs r misleading as well. There r MANY different ways to produce & use modified plants & those differences r what make them 'safe' or 'unsafe'

[@jakedavidheilemann1208]

me to one of my friends: "you'd rather eat cake icing made in an industrial food factory rather than a slightly bigger carrot?" them: "YES"

[@Ariella-mx3xq4cw6n]

No; but smaller carrots taste better.

[@Sec_coach]

Clown If this is your best argument you need do better

[@Cannibalizee]

Well cake icing tastes much better, same goes for non-gmo fruits and veggies. You can taste how fake they are. Go to Europe and you'll see how fruits and veggies truly are supposed to taste. Except Germany, I don't recommend eating their fruits and veggies.

[@bizudamarasengan]

... I've tried cake like that before... I stole it from the storage and shared it with whoever caught me. I would also take a piece of pineapple and eat it in front of my supervisor if they don't let me go during lunch break. And about carrots, 🥕 I hate it because it's rare and expensive.

[@bizudamarasengan]

But I do love white Carrots... I don't know what you call it in English. It's 'Mulaa' in my native language. I will take that over Doritos anyday...

[@michellegiroux8677]

As a biotechnologist, this is so nice to see. I purposefully don’t buy organic to not encourage this. Eating an apple never turned you into an apple 🤦🏻‍♀️ eating GMOs doesn’t modify, never has, never will, modify your own DNA. Love the cool things GMOs bring like frost control, increased nutrition, etc. GMO food are safety tested way more than any other foods. And a lot of these “health gurus” that only want organic, non GMO foods also consume a lot of supplements that ARE NOT REGULATED AT ALL. Thanks Dr Mike ♥️

[@shakeyj4523]

I buy organic because they don't have as much in the way of pesticides and herbicides, not because of GMO. I would buy GMO food that was organic in every other way. eg. as few chemical poisons as possible. And no, I get my information from reading the laws about organic foods, not some silly guru.

[@michellegiroux8677]

@@shakeyj4523 except organic foods actually use a lot of pesticides, herbicides, insecticides as well.. just different ones. If you wash your produce before you eat it, there’s no reason to fear them.

[@darkydoom]

Same. If I see something sold as organic I refuse to buy it. So stupid. Same with labelling something gluten free when it's not even possible. Aka sugar.... wtf

[@tomlxyz]

The only threat I see is that GMO might add some chemicals that can have side effects but that can also happen whenever something new is used as an ingredient without anything being GMO

[@mangantasy289]

biologist here, but similar ideas. When I hear all this nonsense I can't help but just think "stomach acid does not care about the genetics of the material it digests...".

[@longforgotten4823]

We’ve been genetically modifying agricultural crops since the Mesolithic.

[@cbpd89]

Most foods would be basically inedible if they'd never been modified. We'd have exactly one type of orange and it would be green, small, and sour.

[@locrianphantom3547]

@@cbpd89wouldn’t be much of an orange

[@chettlar212]

This just isn't true. Genetic modification has a specific definition which breeding does not fit.

[@zacharyhenderson2902]

​@@chettlar212 Cross-breeding two different breeds or species of plants does. The only difference is you're modifying genes at random instead of aiming for specific chunks of DNA.

[@Silverizael]

@@chettlar212 That "specific" definition is also vague and applied unequally because it is the anti-science groups that purposefully push it as meaning something specific. Meanwhile, the definition they use excludes a bunch of stuff (including organic crops) for no reason other than it doesn't fit their preconceptions. They don't like to admit that all modern cultivars, including heirloom crops, are the result of things like radioactive mutagenesis done in the early 1900's to create new useful traits.

[@firetrucksrule5383]

Honestly I think that Monsanto's horrible business practices around their IP control are a big part of why people are hesitant about GMO acceptance. Not the sole reason of course but I think it's a big motivator towards it.

[@LoFiAxolotl]

are you regularly going to hospitals yelling at nurses at the end of the month because they want to be paid for their work? If not you being mad at a company for doing the same thing is incredibly irrational... people and companies are allowed to profit off of their labor/products even in a communist society that holds true.... so seems like "lack of intelligence" not horrible business practices are a big motivator

[@firetrucksrule5383]

@@LoFiAxolotl If you're siding with a multi billion dollar corporation who routinely sues small farmers over what any rational minded person would recognize as nothing then you're not motivated by intelligence, you're motivated by the boot you're licking.

[@0987654411]

​@@LoFiAxolotlterrible comparison..if something you will have to compare yelling at nurse for getting paid commiting malpractice. It is perfectly rational to be angry at a corporation that is profiting while causing harm

[@DukeGMOLOL]

Those accusations about Monsanto and patents are false firetruck.

[@suzanneemerson2625]

Sorry, Dr. Mike. I love most of your videos, and I’m no fan of Gwenyth Paltrow and Goop, but I know too many cell biologists who won’t eat gmo foods to go back to growing them in my garden now. I’m just worried the natural seeds will become impossible to get for those of us who want them. Saving my own, but sometimes there aren’t enough.

[@wandateree]

I have a deep problem with people saying things like "all these chemicals"... Everything is a chemical!!

[@steveself9314]

Evil aka black magic is transforming something in a way that is detrimental. Genetically modifying, bioengineering, or "GMO"ing foods means that mutated or manmade strains of pathogens like e coli and bacillus thurgiensis (spellcheck) are designed to be present in every cell of the growing plant/"food" and then it's further poisoned by the roundup which is in part the Agent Orange recipe. If you believe that this is okay or good for you, you're doomed and causing the problem. Grrrrrrr

[@gildedhorse]

This might be your best video out of all of them. Super important topic. We are living in an era where experts are dismissed, and joe blow's opinion is treated as fact. It is refreshing to see you stand against this wave.

[@KBRoller]

This is why the movie "Don't Look Up" made me so uncomfortable. It's this generation's "Idiocracy", except way more plausible, and it's terrifying to think about.

[@scribbler60]

Anytime you see Gwynneth Paltrow or Vani Hari "Foodbabe" take a stand on something, you can safely write it off as nonsense.

[@lucky_block_head]

true

[@desireer6915]

Yes fr! 😂

[@loriw2661]

Absolutely

[@Trump.is.a.nazzii]

Gwyneth has Orthorexia

[@Walletfinder10.0]

LoL

[@binatitagain]

As an MPH student that did food safety and PH communication courses, thank you for doing this video!! GMO foods have helped millions by being drought, flood and pest resistant. Like you mentioned, the labeling practices for 'all natural' and 'GMO free' are a joke!

[@shorgoth]

don't forget the label Bio...

[@germscamacho8362]

Patent of seeds, soil degradation, deforestation, monocultures, pesticides and pollinators, loss of biodiversity, of course the country that most benefits will have all the propaganda in schools and media as "this is the best solution"

[@LoFiAxolotl]

billions... multiple billions... in the 80s Norman Borlaug already became known as the man who saved a billion lives... eventually he'll even hit a trillion... people still screaming GMOs being bad

[@jk_22]

@@LoFiAxolotlthat was cross breeding which is not GMO

[@frankied.roosevelt6232]

Thats cool. Except big ag literally doesnt do it for people. They do it for profit and do it in an unethical, unedible means

[@mkaltreider5322]

Totally agree but a couple points I found (with credible research !) - GMO crops can cross pollinate with similar plants in the area, changing indigenous species or other farmers crops in undesirable or potentially harmful ways. Although pests can damage crops, the ecosystem of insects in the area is important for a healthy environment and in a delicate balance that can be altered negatively. - Many GMO strains are patented to limit use and increase profits by big corporations like Monsanto. This is an additional cost to farmers who are often struggling to stay afloat or squeeze them out of their business because they are surrounded by other GMO crops that are more profitable / in demand. I don't condemn GMO foods but I think there is an additional environmental responsibility in how they are grown and corporate greed tactics on how they negatively affect farmers that should be addressed. Thanks Dr Mike for the great content!

[@DukeGMOLOL]

The sources were not credible.

[@RaquelSantos-hj1mq]

Well said. Thank you! This video was very oversimplified.

[@DukeGMOLOL]

And your comment is false.

[@DukeGMOLOL]

@@RaquelSantos-hj1mq The comment was false.

[@mkaltreider5322]

@DukeGMOLOL Nope not false. Do your own research of *credible* sources and ~prove me wrong or stop being an internet troll!~

[@molsc82]

From a molecular biologist, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU FOR THIS VIDEO!!!! The misinformation is absolutely wild & it makes me giddy to see you fight it on so many different topics.

[@inquisitivenessandcontempl9918]

GMO products are bad for the body because of the glyphosate residue accumulated in them. That's the reason they get modified to be glyphosate resistant in the first place, for the farmer to be able to use glyphosate on them to eliminate unwanted weeds. And that's a proven fact, there is research on the harm of the glyphosate residue found on crops on the human body.

[@Frantie]

Thank you Dr. Mike! Molecular Biologist here. I usually get so frustrated whenever anyone talks about GMOs because noone ever seems to know what they are talking about. I wasn't going to click on the video, but then I thought: "But Dr. Mike doesn't spread misinformation..." and I'm happy I watched it. I also learned a lot about the history of GMOs in the US. I hope more people try to learn about things like that and start to understand, that things aren't just black and white and that a label like 'GMO free' doesn't tell you anything about the quality or impact on the environment.

[@ShogunLazo]

As a Pharmacist I always have headaches when I have to explain to people that Synthetic and Semi-Synthetic drugs are faaar safer then naturally extracted ones, and the more we're able to isolate certain compounds the safer and more predictable they become.

[@DukeGMOLOL]

Bravo!! Keep educating the dolts.

[@MmmHuggles]

I totally agree. I'm all for synthetic chemicals because they can be made quite pure and free from contaminants compared to naturally sourced chemicals. One big thing a lot of people disagree with me about is hydroponic nutrients. A lot of people want "natural", I want as synthetic as possible for purity and contamination reasons. Sadly, there are a lot of misinformed and ignorant people out there that just don't understand what they even believe in. What's worse is these same people can vote.

[@ShogunLazo]

@@MmmHuggles Oh ye I fully agree, the funny thing is i've had this argument even with fellow colleagues, those "medical plant extracts" don't exist for "mother nature to save you", thats literally poison made so that the plant gets avoided by predators, the fact that we've isolated a bunch of things from plants like say the digitalis lanata cardiac glycosides that we use for certain heart conditions (under very strict supervision) is a coincidence, and people keep working to improve the compound, or try to find a variant based on it and so on... but people are stupid. Example currently there's being worked the lab based meat, where they grow it out of induced cancer cells (perfect in nutrition as in actual meat minus a bunch of alergens), but people hear "from cancer cells" and go oh no i don't want to eat cancer (thats not how you get cancer), or my favorite "hormones in X Y Z" pure hormones are not orally active, no matter how much you drink, there's a reason why all those pills come in ester/prodrug forms like propionates,acetates ... but somehow this animal had X small amount and the water here had Y amount ... its just internet fear merchants that keep fanning the flames.

[@tbradtbrad]

There is a difference in foods that are sprayed with a glyphosate-containing herbicide and those that are not. His failing to even mention glyphosate in a video on GMOs shows he's either a paid mouthpiece for the industry or that he's only studied their propaganda. Either way it's very deceptive.

[@DukeGMOLOL]

@@tbradtbrad There is "no difference" in those crops, both crops are safe. Glyphosate is safe, the sewer dwelling Rat Lawyers are not.

[@ana.stuhec]

As a MSc of Food Safety, THANK YOU for spreading awareness and TRUE information!

[@Kaichannel612]

Education is so important. People fear what they don’t understand.

[@sangerzonnvolt6712]

yes and they become H. P. Lovecraft and write a cosmic horror story about an air conditioner

[@virginiamoss7045]

How do you educate people who don't want to be educated? That's the dilemma.

[@TheSathandra]

No, I think most people are just lazy and compliant. If you were to ask a person if they think GMO food is bad for them most will say yes, because they know something is different about it, but they are actually clueless, same for organic, people know that organic is somehow better for them but most wouldn't be able to yell you why. GMO, Round-up, and CRISPR, are just.... yeah.... you know.... SAFE AND EFFECTIVE, right? Trust 'the science' ... and of course the product that was pushed on people in 2021.... if you've taken that you've already voluntarily signed up to be modified your self, with a high probability of 'it' being taken into your own DNA, especially with the vials contamination which they, ah, didn't bother to tell anyone. Don't worry, it's Safe and Effective And very soon, you will eat lab created meat, already in production in the Netherlands. We just had Pairwise team up with Bayer, to make CRISPR salads, that may taste better/make them addictive - oh but don't worry, eating salads is good for your health.... you just have to ignore scientists silenced screams warning about cancer and contamination into other species. No, it's alll good. Every thing juuust fine. Go eat your bio-engineered crops, sprayed with Glyphosate, CRISPR edited foods and a side of lab created meat. You'll own nothing and be happy Let's keep believing these sponsored video's? Oh wait, weren't we going to after mis-information?

[@Marta1Buck]

I fear math

[@Cynthia-rs7ph]

Facts.

[@sophieelizabeth7661]

The real problem with GMOs is that corporations patent them and restrict who has access to these more efficient crops. It has a real impact on farmers in third-world countries, and corporations hold them to ransom over access to these patents.

[@tomlxyz]

A problem that also applies to medicine

[@cjzed6916]

This 100%

[@polkunus]

This is the problem and the root core of gmos, idk why it wasnt made at least a footnote in the vid

[@Silverizael]

That issue isn't unique to GMOs though. Every modern cultivar is patented and their usage controlled, including organic crops. The nice thing about patents though is that they expire and only last for about 20 years. Which is why all the earlier varieties of GMOs from the 90's are off-patent now and can be used freely.

[@dud3655]

This just shouldn't happen. I understand patenting an engine design or something alike, but we didn't come up with these genes, we merely switched them around. You should not be able to patent biological material, period.

[@kat_thefruitbat]

Very well explained, and such an important topic to debunk. I had to take a communications course during undergrad, and one of our independent assignments was creating an educational powerpoint that we would each present to rest of the class and answer any questions they had at the end. I majored in environmental science, so I did a presentation on GMO crops and mainly focused on why they are safe to eat. The topic was all over the media at the time, so I figured it would be a good one to cover. I had so many questions at the end. Even my professor seemed to learn something from the presentation based on a few comments she had. Most students were almost entirely unaware of the information but were very receptive and brought up myths that I was able to debunk, while a few students challenged the information (with myths) and basically labeled my presentation as propaganda. Luckily, I did print out copies of my references for everyone to have, so hopefully that helped some of the skeptics. Most references, if not all, were peer reviewed scientific journal articles (with summary articles when available), which were all unbiased.

[@DukeGMOLOL]

Good job!!

[@MNkno]

Good for you! If your project had been the response by the industry from the start, instead of stonewalling, the industry could have kept more of their credibility intact. Simply "deny, deny, deny" is a strategy that raises suspicion.

[@steveself9314]

Genetically modifying, bioengineering, or "GMO"ing foods means that mutated or manmade strains of pathogens like e coli and bacillus thurgiensis (spellcheck) are designed to be present in every cell of the growing plant/"food" and then it's further poisoned by the roundup which is in part the Agent Orange recipe. If you believe that this is okay or good for you, you're doomed and causing the problem. Grrrrrrr

[@Angieriverowl13117]

Thank you Dr Mike. I can't tell you how much this video means to me. There's always another side to things and people are stressing us out for no reason. I am so happy to hear that there are benefits to gmos. I always kind of wondered how people were able to grow things without pesticides, pesticides are needed to kill the bugs otherwise the bugs eat your crops. But we are so worried about cancer that any association to it turns us away from a product. Particularly here in America where there are so many other options to choose instead.

[@grymns]

I was gonna ask if you hadn't said it, isn't most of the crops we eat today have already been genetically modified because if we look at the exact same species of plants from around 100-300 years ago, it's completely different

[@chettlar212]

No. Breeding does not alter genes fundamentally like genetic engineering allows. GMO is a specific definition and the conflation with breeding is a talking point pushed by a number of companies with vestes interest in ensuring their practices are not scrutinized.

[@Silverizael]

Also because every modern cultivar was developed in the late 1800's, early 1900's through the use of methods like radioactive mutagenesis. That includes all the "heirloom" varieties.

[@dud3655]

​@@chettlar212 It does, that's literally the definition of selective breeding, genetic modification just speeds up the process immensely and allows for very fine tuning, it is the best option.

[@Nilboggen]

@@dud3655 Yeah I have to agree we have been cross breeding plants since around 8000 BC and that does fundamentally change the genetics of the plants. As mentioned above genetic engineering allows this process to be quicker and more precise but it is really no different. We aren't actually making up our own genetic code or anything. Geneticists use look for common traits among plants who share the same genetic blueprint and reuse what nature has already done on its own to add desirable traits to new plant species.

[@CheekieCharlie]

​@@chettlar212 Broccoli, cauliflower, and asparagus are all the same species of plant that has been genetically bred to make it different depending on what we wanted. Dog breeds are a type of gmo

[@jvdarcy]

Thank you! I hope this message reaches just ONE person who is on the fence or genuinely wants to know more about the world.

[@dligas]

"Bro, salt doesn't have genes!" I cannot comeback from this savagery.😂

[@sonicpsycho13]

Salt isn't an O, so it has no Gs to M.

[@danzjz3923]

@@sonicpsycho13 salt isn’t an O therefore cannot be GMO

[@llamawalrushybrid]

@@danzjz3923 Why'd you rephrase what they just said?

[@ivito514]

Salt is a mineral, just like quartz is. it's amazing how the crazyness gets into people, gluten is a great protein, lacking it without replacing it with equivalents will have disastrous health consequences, yet people think it's bad. Conspirationnists and uneducated people are everywhere, sadly.

[@HotRod12667]

Can't even label salt as "organic" because it's not carbon based.

[@emo__runner]

I used to work with a girl who said baby carrots were dangerous because they were genetically modified carrots. She also was in an MLM, so I suppose that makes sense

[@DukeGMOLOL]

!

[@thumbthumb5998]

That's funny because baby carrots are just just turned down to a smaller diameter. They use a bigger one to make multiple smaller baby carrots

[@HotRod12667]

What's an MLM, if you don't mind me asking?

[@emo__runner]

@@HotRod12667 "multi-level marketing" otherwise known as a pyramid scheme

[@Abion47]

@@HotRod12667 Multi-level marketing, a.k.a. a pyramid scheme.

[@jebastafy]

Dr. Mike’s putting effort in creating informative content. A simple “Great video, Dr. Mike!” and “Thanks for shedding light on this topic!” can go a long way.

[@masonkretiv4136]

I'm glad more people are bringing this up. I started my biochemistry PhD last year, and it's at an agricultural university. A big portion of our department is dedicated to plant biochemistry and genetics, which often involves genetically modifying plants. Heck, one of our professors was pretty monumental in some areas because he helped discover the genotype for microwavable rice in its different varieties. Other GMOs that we've been taught about include nutrient rich white rice, which is especially important for poor income areas in America and all over the globe!

[@Foxgirl486]

Hi Doctor Mike, I started watching your channel months ago when my granny died. We were really close, and you helped me so much thank you

[@Katepwe]

Thank you so much for this. As conventional grain farmers in Canada we rarely hear someone outside the industry with this kind of understanding.

[@j3foward]

Monsanto, which was acquired by Bayer (a German multinational pharmaceutical and life sciences company) in 2018, is a prominent producer of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) that facilitate corporate control over agricultural seeds. Monsanto alone is responsible for owning approximately 80% of all GMO seeds globally. These companies hold patents for their seeds, compelling farmers to purchase new seeds annually rather than reusing seeds from previous harvests. Furthermore, Monsanto produces the herbicide Roundup, underscoring a potential conflict of interest. The control these corporations exert over both seeds and complementary agricultural chemicals illustrates that the issues associated with GMOs extend beyond mere food safety and impact the broader agricultural economy.There are significant ethical and economic concerns regarding the power wielded by these corporate entities in global agriculture that needs to be examined. GMO's is a gateway to a monopoly on the food supply which is why many countries have banned GMO's.

[@scottv781]

Thank you! I thought comments like this would be all over the comment section, but no. This is exactly why I don't support GMO's. Not because of health concerns.

[@cgyang]

This was my biggest issue with GMO. This is still a good video, but unfortunately doesn't touch on this aspect at all.

[@kaitlinphilipp87]

It wasn't always like this. Look at GMO papayas, which were developed in an academic setting and are credited with saving the entire papaya industry in Hawaii (which is the only place in the US that grows them) from the ring spot virus. I wish there were some good way to advocate for government/public funded and academic research for GMO development. Agribusiness corporations aren't going to be developing the drought, flood, and disease resistant crops people really need because the people who need them most can't pay for them.

[@kennaleeorme4454]

This isn't an argument against gmos, it's an argument against predatory capitalistic practices that exist in the current gmo market. Besides, this critique applies to a majority of manufactured products sold in the US

[@cgyang]

@@kennaleeorme4454 You're fundamentally correct. The criticism has been placed squarely on GMOs and not questionable business practices.

[@leah279]

ignorance on social media has made so many problems. Glad to see the scientifically backed info!

[@NickRoman]

The Internet democratized the dissemination of information. Maybe there was a good reason why not everyone was able to get an audience before. Not everyone is worth listening to.

[@whatsanenigma]

I've wondered for a long time why GMO food is supposedly so bad when really it's just a faster and more precise way of doing what humans have done literally since agriculture began. Literally everything we eat nowadays, plant or animal, is genetically modified in that sense. But I thought I must be missing something, being no kind of medical professional or scientist. So thanks so much for confirming what I thought with an actual expert take!

[@Rebbyrag]

GM Corn and soy products have little to no nutritional value and are a significant cause of health issues in lower income/ lower education parts of USA.

[@Tracymmo]

At a pro-science rally several years ago, one scientist had a sign on her dog that said "I'm a GMO."

[@whatsanenigma]

@@Tracymmo I love it!

[@nigelwest5776]

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for dispelling this nonsense

[@durva8296]

GMO crops have helped in reducing famines, helped to provide nutritious food to malnourished people (eg: golden rice with provitamin A added) yet still celebrities choose to raise their voices on issues that are non-existent. smh.

[@jaygio]

That's wonderful. More for you and Dr. Mikhail. Although I have a feeling Mikhail ears organic. I'll be sticking to natural and unaltered. Seems like everything Mike says is a talking point pushed by corporate interests.

[@Gobinator98]

@@jaygio Judging by your comment and others on this video, it seems you must have failed science class. Mikhail gave plenty of examples of genetically modified organisms that have been developed over millennia. If DNA never changed from one generation to the next, most, if not all species would fail to exist. So genetic mutations, whether naturally occurring or through genetic manipulation with methods like crossbreeding, selective breeding, or even in a lab, are perfectly normal and help secure nutritious, disease resistant food for many parts of the world. If there was not crossbreeding, selective breeding, or any method other than a lab, then the produce section in the supermarket would be quite tiny. Another example of this is the plant Brassica oleracea, which is the scientific name for multiple vegetables like Cauliflower, Brussel Sprouts, Kale, Broccoli, and a few others. Although the genetic changes happened through a different method than modern farmers use, it still does not mean that your foods are "GMO Free". They most certainly modified in one way, shape, or form. Only the method is different.

[@itsbecca]

Actually, golden rice could be doing that but it is not allowed in any of the countries suffering from severe VitA deficiency, primarily due to the spread of fear by organizations like green peace who protested it despite nearly 2.7 million children dying in a single year due to low immune response due to the deficiency. In fact, the protests against Golden Rice was one of the major causes of the anti-GMO fear mongering that we are still experiencing today. IMO the anti-GMO stance comes from a place of immense privilege, and I find it deeply unethical that people are willing to dismiss literal dying children in their self-centered quest to "eat clean." It literally makes me feel sick just talking about it.

[@jessicazaytsoff1494]

​@@itsbecca Thank you for saving me the research time on golden rice! I remembered it was not used because of anti GMO stances and was doubting myself.

[@BusinessSkrub]

​@@jaygioclearly you didn't watch the video, or you'd have learned enough to make you realise that your stance is braindead

[@Svnipni]

Thanks doc. This molecular biologist is really tired of having to explain to friends and family that I don't work for some evil high tech lab. I work in microbial ecology damnit

[@PROVOCATEURSK]

If you are not working on ways to reduce population than you are kinda evil.

[@KBRoller]

Okay, but like... that's just a front for your *real* project, Project Mind-Controlling Bacterial Ray, right? 😂

[@Svnipni]

I'm not authorised to comment on that

[@looovegoodmusic]

@@Svnipni :))

[@dh8203]

Microbial Molecular Biology sounds pretty high tech, and evil is a value judgement.

[@brookereed7287]

Dr. Mike I've always loved your content and how you try to spread facts regardless of personal opinions! This is so great to see you putting this info out there. It has been so hard for us farmers just trying to make a living and feed people when the uninformed public trys to stop us at every turn! Keep up the great work but above all stay happy and healthy😊❤

[@jasperzatch610]

I appreciate this video SO MUCH! ❤ Thank you doc! I just have to roll my eyes and ignore people who repeat the false information

[@DukeGMOLOL]

!!!

[@lilabean.ster2]

Mike, I’m literally learning about Biotechnology in science right now. This is actually going to help me. Thank you ❤

[@TetraSky]

Kurzgesagt also did a video on GMO a few years back that is still relevant if you want another video on the subject along with their sources.

[@briettnycurtner2639]

Editing was 🔥🔥🔥 on this, beyond appreciative of Dr. Mike and team's battle against misinformation. I have been informed!

[@Virtuous_Rogue]

My undergrad scientific writing class used this topic as an example of how and how not to communicate about science to the general public. Great video!

[@aaronsnell9410]

The problem is the lack of scientific literacy in this country.

[@deezeedrone]

THIS is the first Dr. Mike video I'm going to share my parents not because Dr. Mike's inability to convince viewers with evidence (which never happened btw) but with the topic's sensitivity. Good work Dr. Mike

[@Infinite_Curiosity00]

I agree with the points you made. One issue I still can't let go of is many crops in the market have less nutrition because they are modified to survive the trip, and modified to spoil less quickly. I realize they are also picked too early, but not the point I'm making. This is why I try to grow and can each year. The stuff I produce tastes and looks so much better. I realize they are also gmo, but bred and modified to enhance flavor and nutrition. My crops spoil way faster than store bought.

[@alexnik1181]

Being modified to last longer doesn't inherently mean they are less nutritious. Have you checked their nutrition content, or you are just assuming? Tasting and looking better doesn't mean more nutritious. Is this another conspiracy theory?

[@datagroup1911]

Thank you! This was an important side of the equation that was important for context, yet he completely ignored it with the classical one-sided arguments that have been served ad nauseum by the industry PR.

[@AJGraham83]

The crops in grocery stores are less nutritious than growing personal small batches for various reasons relating to the business of harvesting large crop batches for profit. Is that a correct understanding of your point?

[@alexnik1181]

@@AJGraham83 But it's wrong.

[@loganmedia1142]

Where can I find reviewed research showing these nutritional differences?

[@Entropic_Alloy]

THANK YOU DR. MIKE. The lack of understanding on these sorts of topics by the general public is so frustrating because it leads to big steps back when it comes to making a better future for everyone. The fearmongering and manipulation for economic and political clout is the reason why vaccines and nuclear energy is also feared, when they are both safe and extremely important. One point to make about GMOs' controversy is how evil corporations like Monsanto use them to effectively bully farmers. But that doesn't mean the technology is bad or harmful, just that corporate interests are.

[@ellienicolexo]

For anyone currently in college: TAKE A GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY COURSE!!!! Life changing. We studied the use of GMO’s to reduce environmental impacts in agriculture and for applications to global hunger when it comes to using gmo’s to increase nutrient density in certain foods. completely Changed my perspective! Most useful class ever.

[@DukeGMOLOL]

Bravo!!

[@pearls321]

THANK YOU. I wish more people were talking about this! When I was in college, one of my professors explained the science behind GMOs/organic food and it has never left me. Huzzah for all the money Ive saved on buying the cheaper "danger" food since then! 🎉😌

[@TheMNWolf]

Oh my God thank you so much. I have been trying to explain GMO to people for years and they always just turn their nose up in disgust. The biggest problem I have with GMO is how the companies that own the patents have a mafia-like grip on their product. Many of them will not allow farmers to reuse seeds year to year, and force them to buy new seeds for every crop.

[@Planet.Xplor3r]

Yep, at the you of it at capitalism ruins civilization changing inventions just to make more money

[@nathanieldinguss9836]

The only issue I've ever had with GMO products is usually the company who makes it typically Monsanto. Who's Pollen will cross pollinate with local farmers and then they will sue the local farmers for having their custom DNA in their plants. Or charging farmers ridiculous amounts of money for their seed.

[@pantherec77]

Yes, when I studied this back in 2008 one of the biggest issues was that crops grown from Monsanto seeds could not produce viable seeds. They could however cross polinate with farmers nearby who wanted nothing to do with Monsanto creating major problems.

[@SegFaultMatt]

Funnily enough, Monsanto doesn’t exist anymore. They were bought by Bayer

[@styx85]

Keep Poland out of this, you monster!

[@C-four4]

What's an example of a case where you believe this happened?

[@Theobalds_sister_Petunia]

There’s a famous case from Canada, Monsanto Canada Inc v Schmeiser

[@frankschwartz4683]

I think this is one of your most informative videos, Dr. Mike. I’d love to see you do more of these 10-15 minute deep dives into important health topics.

[@docgammycat]

Mike - The part you missed is about glyphosate, brand name "Roundup," weed killer, a known carcinogen. Modified GMO food crops (corn, soy, etc.) are engineered to survive spraying with this pernicious herbicide, while the so-called weeds die (a "weed" is a subjective judgment). So the concern is less about the genetics of the plants and much, much more about the chemicals they are engineered to tolerate, chemicals that cause ENORMOUS collateral damage. Full disclosure: I am working on restoring my grandparents' farm, so agriculture is an area of interest.

[@DukeGMOLOL]

Not a single agency or pesticide regulator in the world rates it a known carcinogen or even anything else harmful at the tiny real world levels we are exposed to. Regards.

[@docgammycat]

@DukeGMOLOL Do you know what you're talking about? Do you work for Monsanto? Because you are most surely not an attorney or a scientist. January 2024: Philadelphia jury awards $2.25 billion to a Pennsylvania man who claimed Roundup caused his non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The verdict followed five other successful plaintiffs' cases in 2023.

[@nickbourgade8473]

@@docgammycat While I don't know if RoundUp is a carcinogen, basing an argument around jury decisions is not a good argument. A jury is not experts and they will always have their own bias.

[@margaretqueenofscots9450]

@@nickbourgade8473If Europe bans it, that’s a pretty good indication that it really is toxic. They do much better than Americans at this type of regulation.

[@talyahr3302]

Thank you. I'm not against GMOs at all, but I'm buying my food centered around the use of pesticides. So I should keep buying organic because at least the pesticides will be organic. I know a lot about Monsanto and RoundUp which is why I'm scared out my boots to avoid them. The other people in these comments should look into them, they are an evil company.

[@kevlaw10]

I never thought GMO’s were bad for our health, but the way “ownership”, patenting and the business practices of the companies that own them is pretty bad.

[@fawnsky854]

Exactly it’s a lot deeper than we’re just as healthy, trust us. Yes so many foods are GMO there’s pretty much no way to avoid it in the American diet. But the fact that these companies are super shady and trying to monopolize the food industry not only in this country but spreading to other countries as well, while taking down small farms all over, this is one of the biggest reasons I have a problem with GMO and the companies that hold the patents on them.

[@toramenor]

But that problem stems from capitalism, not from gmo foods themselves

[@fishyfins]

Let me say this: The first GMO crops were produced in roughly 1980. The first seed patent was granted in around 1930. Today, there are about 200ish GMO seed varieties under patent, but also many that are not. But this is a hugely small number of overall seed varieties under patent. In fact, there are currently more "organic" seed varieties under patent than GMO varieties! Rage against seed patents if you must, but the issue is far from GMO specific.

[@danielklub]

Exactly, the problem is capitalist incentives, not the GMO concept itself. This is why many GMO foods are designed for long shelf life and attractive appearance OVER flavor. You can't even buy a tomato anymore in grocery stores in the US and Europe, only red balls that look vaguely like tomatoes but don't taste anything like them.

[@Novacification]

Yes, exactly this. Having the entire food chain rely entirely on GMO variants owned by companies would be extremely dangerous in my opinion. GMOs I'm fine with, as long as the supply isn't limited by a private entity. You only have to look to the tech sector to see the consequences of what happens when big companies get to shape every day life according to their profit margins. Little by little items you've come to rely on start to come with caveats. You bought a TV? Here comes an update to feed you ads directly, so you can't block it. Accept the TOS or your TV won't work. Bought a new car? We'll just track your driving habits and send the data to your insurance company. Expect an adjustment of your premium in the mail. Try to disable our data collection and we'll disable your car. Want a robot vacuum? Great! It comes with forced cloud integration, so we can get a live feed from the cameras at all times. An internet connection isn't needed for it to work but it is needed for us to be able to sell your data. Want a phone with strong privacy options and an assurance that we won't remove privacy options in the future? I guess you need to learn how to root your device and install custom firmware. By the way, your warranty is forfeit. Profit hungry companies have essentially removed our privacy and the concept of ownership from almost all everyday items. If food companies find themselves in a position where people are forced to use their products if they want to live a normal life, then they will do exactly the same as has happened in tech.

[@askmiller]

The problem is scary news travels more efficiently. If you tell someone that microwaves irradiate food and it causes cancer, that'll spread way more efficiently than the follow up that the means by which you heat it up is the least dangerous aspect of a hot pocket.

[@FirstnameLastname-jd4uq]

Most dangerous aspect is probably the temperature. But thats every single cooked food ever

[@zackdickens1727]

As a plant genetistis the story gets more insane. As mentioned briefly in the video. The wild type plants often have a very distinct phenotype (physical characteristics). Because, curtain Gene editing techniques produced the same result as UV radiation. The restriction is more dependent on methodology than what mutation you cause. For instance, I can throw seeds into a nuclear reactor (something we genuinely do) then select for beneficial mutants which would be considered non-GMO in comparison with using the crispr method.

[@angelitomasalta869]

Now 😅 mutate it to have meat fruit

[@Nixeu42]

Atomic gardening is awesome, though. Way cooler than just exposing plants to mutagens and hoping for the best.

[@aLv1n001]

Mike may not be pregnant but he never fails to deliver

[@desireer6915]

😂😂😂

[@rtek8318]

TBF I’m sure he’s delivered multiple babies-just on the catching side rather than the pushing!

[@codyrcollins]

Deliver what, Monsanto sponsored disinformation?!

[@EMERGENCYRESPONSEVIC]

@@rtek8318ye he said that he has delivered over 30!

[@melissasheppard6674]

Happy Sunday Dr. Mike and Bear pup 🐶

[@rinajane5680]

Our science teacher taught us this! He explained to us the benefits and how this works, he also dispelled any misconception about GMOs.

[@Dogamtika]

Learning about genetics in Biology class was one of the best decisions ever...

[@CanisLupus1987]

Lol Gwyneth caring about GMOS while Selling dangerous things that actually risk your health is hillarious

[@Milacku123]

Mike, I NEVER comment on your videos but you are so ON THE MONEY with this I am standing and applauding!

[@hymnsforchrist3620]

I'm so grateful for this video. I've been in circles where eating GMO foods was considered pretty much sinful and evil.

[@sarah_youtube966]

Ah Dr Mike. Having a BsC in environmental Biology and currently working on a PhD in Biomedical Sciences/Immunobiology, this video makes my little heart happy. I think a lot of this confusion stems from misinformation and problematic ideas like the monsanto scandal. I remember when i was around 18 i saw a sign on a german corn farm reading "Genfreier Mais" (Gene-free corn).

[@zelfzuchtig]

Reading through the comments and from other discussions I've see about GMO, Monsanto definitely comes up a lot so it does seem the mistrust is of them (or large companies in general) is a big factor. I also see a lot of accusations that the studies/people saying their products are safe are all funded by them.

[@KBRoller]

Gene-free corn? That's impressive! Back in my high school biology lab, we once extracted the DNA from our own cheek swab cells and stored it in alcohol in a little glass vial, attached to a necklace, so we could wear our purified DNA around our necks. I wonder if there's a little glass vial for every ear of corn they removed the DNA from, or just one big one with all the chromosomes stacked together? 😂

[@Nixeu42]

@@zelfzuchtig Well...yes. Someone has to fund the research somehow. And the FDA doesn't usually hand out grants to people to verify this stuff, so far as I know. If you're a corporation, and you want to disprove a study claiming that your food is harmful, you usually have to pay someone to do it. Not many scientists are going to do it pro bono.

[@shangobunni5]

LOL, Gene free corn!! 😂

[@stifledmind]

We used to joke that Prop 65 labels had their own Prop 65 warning (like a mise en abyme effect). Perfect example of alarm fatigue.

[@tenten32158]

Born and raised in California. Everything causes cancer. So, nothing causes cancer. Those warning labels mean nothing.

[@DarylVHorn]

Very brave, clear, direct, and important video. Thank you, Doctor Mike!

[@stephaniecrahal5336]

I'm an Environmental Ecologist: graduated 2022, B.S. Ecology for Environmental Science, University of North Texas. We talked a lot about this in school. Not all GMOs are created equally, and some GMOs, specifically transgenic GMOs, have not been proven to be safe, and these transgenic GMOs are relatively new, not well-researched, and have not been consumed very long to understand the long-term effects. This video is incomplete and lacks nuance in many ways. Dr. Mike, I have watched your videos for a long time, and you are one of the only doctors on KZbin I trust. Respectfully, this is not your field, and I think you should delete the video. Did you make this video for the likes, or did you really think you knew everything about GMOs? Telling people what they want to hear, that they can eat whatever GMOs they want, is not necessarily good advice, and it may come back to bite you in the future.

[@DukeGMOLOL]

It is astounding that you reached that conclusion about GM technology with such an education. It can only be that you focused what the organic industry had to say about it and nothing else. Exactly which of the 12 transgenic GMO crops are not safe?

[@davidadcock3382]

You are defiantly clueless about this subject!!!

[@ThisIsTechToday]

Would love to hear what your research and thoughts are on organic food!

[@victoria-janeerfort6934]

Thank you Dr Mike for sharing factual information about GMOs. People love to villainize the food and agricultural industry. It’s really upsetting and frustrating trying to defend the industry I work in, I’m a Food Technologist.

[@ofthenearfuture]

This is an incredibly well researched and presented video that I agree with, but I wish you would have also touched on the negative business practices of GMO production and agrochemical companies like Monsanto.

[@prettypic444]

Anyone who wants to eat “non GMO food” is free to try and extract cabbage, cauliflower, Brussel sprouts, broccoli, and Kale the same plant

[@KevinTheID]

I've been saying this about "Organic foods" for years and so many have thought I was wrong because of the fear-education by the media. It's been irritating to say the least and seeing someone reputable affirm what I've been saying is extremely satisfying.

[@codyrcollins]

You are still wrong. Research glyphosate, Kevin 🙄

[@KevinTheID]

@@codyrcollins Don't need to research it, I have a whole jug of it in my garage. What's your point?

[@codyrcollins]

@@KevinTheID go spray it all over your food then eat it and see what happens !

[@john_titor1]

@@codyrcollins Sounds like you are the one who needs to do a little research, buddy.

[@Nixeu42]

@@codyrcollins I did. It's fine. Everyone agrees. Except IARC, but they're paranoid.

[@ceoatcrystalsoft4942]

I think part of the issue is the main purveyors of GMOs and seeds. A few producers own the majority of seed producers and they are trademarked. When they naturally spread to nearby lands, they can sue the farmers for trademark infringement. The issue has shifted

[@DukeGMOLOL]

No producer has ever sued for "naturally spread".

[@stevenalexander6033]

Monsanto's policy before they were bought out... and one that still exists for bayer is that if an individual finds GMO crop on their land... the company will go out and clean it up on their dime. The situation people tend to point to was a guy who had previously grown roundup ready canola saved the seeds of that canola when his user license ran out and then replanted them. Pollination exists. Everything pollinates. no court is going to allow a lawsuit through on the basis of cross pollination. It's not something that can be regulated.

[@Nixeu42]

"Can" and "will" aren't the same thing. From what I understand, they tend to start out by asking the person to sign the usual licensing agreement. They only get litigious if you knowingly violate their patent. If only because lawyers are expensive, and the PR is bad.

[@DukeGMOLOL]

@@stevenalexander6033 Yep!! Except the Thieving Schmuck Schmeiser actually took GM canola from next door that had blown into his margins and ditches (he also said they might have fallen off a passing truck) and purposely used those seeds to plant a thousand acres of GM canola without paying for it.

[@-Devy-]

"Here are my very strong opinions and basless assumptions on this topic that I have absolutely no clue about." - The Internet

[@38llee]

Thank you, doctor. People just think GMOs are bad. As a small-time farmer, I knew that GMOs make life easier and make farming easier. GMOs are not as bad as people think. I knew all of this already. And I don't even a degree. 😂

[@rafiahmad7548]

Now I know, thank you Dr. Mike for educating us with correct information!

[@cassidymeier]

this is why i really dislike tiktok. its full of misinformation and so many of my friends rely on what they see and research what is said… but they only look at articles confirming the narrative that tiktoker is pushing. they also spend so much time on it. i can’t.

[@majesticeagle6629]

When I was a kid, I didn’t like GMOs, but I thought it was some kind of code for a poison. But when I learned GMO's were, I was confused why people hated it so much, I thought of it like a more efficient and faster way of selective breeding, cutting out the randomness and getting what you want out of the plant. I thought (and still do) that it is the future of food and nutrition

[@majesticeagle6629]

Just a reminder that kids are very susceptible to marketing

[@dutchik5107]

People are susceptible to marketing. The people against it mostly think it's poison. Unhealthy (because it would make sense to engineer the nutrient out of a crop?) And will like kill biodiversity (not understanding cross breeding does as well)

[@CGI_Andy]

My favorite one is seeing "Non-GMO Corn" when corn itself is a GMO. 🤦‍♂

[@steveself9314]

There's a gigantic difference between GMO and hybridization. They don't inject non-gmo corn seeds with creepy manmade bacteria and toxins Genetically modifying, bioengineering, or "GMO"ing foods means that mutated or manmade strains of pathogens like e coli and bacillus thurgiensis (spellcheck) are designed to be present in every cell of the growing plant/"food" and then it's further poisoned by the roundup which is in part the Agent Orange recipe. If you believe that this is okay or good for you, you're doomed and causing the problem. Grrrrrrr

[@Ilovetay2_]

Hi Doctor Mike!!! I'm a huge fan!! And I have a 2 part question! First in my hospital system we have POAs ( Patient observation assistants), do you know what our position means and do you have any in your hospital? Second question can do a collab with Rosanna Pansino, it would be an awesome collab!!! Love you so much!! Stay blessed and healthy!!

[@porakiyadraekojin3390]

Fun fact: non gmo corn is still gmo because of extreme selective breeding for potentially thousands of years :D Edit: and he brings up around the 5:30-ish mark, yay!

[@whatsanenigma]

I was so glad to see that too. I've wondered about that myself for a long time, how GMO corn, etc., is supposedly so very different conceptually from regular corn and basically every other thing we eat, plant or animal. I am thrilled to see an actual expert address this, because I am very much not one.

[@1DwtEaUn]

See I don't think that selective breeding should fall into GMO banner, though yes we did quite widely change teosinte over millennia using it. Radiation gardening should definitely be under that GMO banner though.

[@tomlxyz]

​​@@1DwtEaUn selective breeding is literally about modifying the genes. Humans didn't know that back then but it still is that either way

[@Thedirtshed]

Remember: GMO are selective breeding in creative mode.

[@wenderful1577]

I consider food GMO when scientists intentionally compromise the cells barrier to input genetic information. Not natural cross pollination.

[@evilsharkey8954]

One of the biggest hurdles GMOs Face is the bad reputation of Monsanto, a major player in the GMO field. The most common GMO products are Roundup Ready crops that are doused with glyphosate. Monsanto has a bad reputation for screwing farmers, too. They’re a nasty corporation. Other GMO producers need to do a better job of distancing themselves from Monsanto.

[@TheJaboogie]

This!

[@Nixeu42]

The second largest GMO company is Du Pont. They're not much better, in terms of reputation, though that's mostly for the chemical production side of things. Second, Monsanto have been steadily losing their patents on glyphosate resistant crops for a decade, since their Round Up Readt soybeans in 2014. This is an old talking point that is becoming increasingly irrelevant and incorrect.

[@evilsharkey8954]

@@Nixeu42 We both know that the relevance and truthfulness of talking points mean little to the anti-science crowd. They just associate GMOs with the sleaziest companies that use the technology.

[@Nixeu42]

@@evilsharkey8954 Oh, isn't that the truth. Don't get me started on chemophobes who don't understand the first thing about chemistry. But some people are genuinely just ignorant, rather than _willfully_ ignorant.

[@Anyone-but-him]

Was a insect and disease management consultant to orchards, vineyard, and other growers for 25 years. I worked with traditional and "organic" growers. I have seen alot of changes in pesticides in 25 years and the removal of a number of classes leading to safer and more effective pest management strategies. This video is 💯 on target 🎯. Organic can actually be worse for the environment and worker safety than current classes of pesticides. GMOs are nothing to fear. They allow an ever growing global population to be fed and done so at reasonable market prices.

[@DukeGMOLOL]

Bravo!!

[@lyndareimer7887]

Thank you for putting this out! I worked in the GMO canola industry for nearly 10 years and there are so many misunderstandings about what GMOs are and the hugely beneficial role they play in the agriculture industry!!!

[@chris-zd9sr]

Ouch canola and gmo.....don't fall for this bs

[@ross-carlson]

SOOOOO happy to see you cover this topic - as both a foodie and scientifically literate I LOVE GMO's - imagine the position you live in when you get to decide that perfectly great food isn't good enough for you.

[@Mindy12836]

I love this video so much. I’m so tired of people being anti farmer for one. Farmers feed the world and so much of the world isn’t educated on what they do. Also as a mom there’s so much shame around not feeding your child non GMO organic food. As if you don’t care enough to feed them the most expensive things, when that’s not feasible for so many families. Thank you for helping fight this narrative!

[@DukeGMOLOL]

Bravo!!

[@PamelaWissenbach]

I feel rather validated. I've been telling people around me for years that humans have been modifying food for hundreds, if not thousands of years. Peas are the example I've used. But the same can be said of cattle, chickens, watermelons, citrus, and more. All these things have been manipulated by humans to be different than they were originally and to breed true to that manipulation, i.e. genetically modified.

[@cgttc0441]

I have as well. Not much success.

[@lilmissemi]

The fact this isn't common knowledge is sad to me. Basic high school bio made us write papers on GMOS and the actual science behind it 😂😢

[@ashleygoggs5679]

People wouild rather believe conspiracies then cold hard facts.

[@emilelesaffre]

@@ashleygoggs5679It's easier to say something like: "GMOs are bad" than to explain why they’re not that bad.

[@klausernstthalheim9642]

Dont forget golden rice project helped a lot with malnutrition and was basically made to prevent big companies to hog all rice harvest

[@sathvamp1]

Um... question: The golden rice makers aren't a "big company"?? Oh and I am "SURE" the ONLY reason for "helping" was out of the goodness of their hearts, right? [Sarcasm]. Let's face it, the REAL goal of those companies was to make money and based on the other types of GMOs and chemicals they make, that tells me they care squat / zero about peoples "health". So therefore, how do we really know organic option wasn't JUST as good? Well we might never "know the answer to that" if GMO companies keep unethically stepping on small and/or organic farmers and spreading the likely-misinformation that "their solution is the only one." Why not ALLOW all potential solutions to get fairly tried out, instead of allowing [large] GMO companies to suppress research / violate the Freedom of Speech?' Fair competition is great but laws should not get violated in that process.

[@klausernstthalheim9642]

@@sathvamp1 well golden rice is basically distributed for free.....for the poorest farmers, they dont need pesticides, they can use the seeds again and again and you complain about organic stuff and free speech (which cant be applied to research since they have to be based on facts, not ideologies or opinions)...its obvious you live a very priviledged life and never worried about malnutrion

[@heidineef6918]

@@sathvamp1 Golden rice is so called because it contains greater amounts of beta-carotene, a source of vitamin A found in carrots, broccoli, sweet potatoes, etc. The areas where the golden rice was being distributed normal rice is currently the staple crop. Rice doesn't naturally contain vitamin A, so the hope was to curb the number of children in those areas who were being blinded and even dying due to vitamin A deficiency. However, the groups lobbying against giving GMO's to "poor, uneducated farmers" in third world countries have very often been successful. As those parents bury their children, I'm sure that they are very grateful that they died of from malnutrition due to organic rice, instead of risking the chance that this enhanced form could cause a problem 60 years down the road.

[@zoiewagner6873]

Thank you so much for educating your viewers. As an educated agriculturalist this is what I argue every single day to those I hear say GMOs are bad. We need more educated people teaching people not to fear GMO's!

[@DukeGMOLOL]

!!!

[@eliljeho]

My problem with GMO's is that the current government will allow for patents for certain crops, and will allow for major corporations to steal money on people's crops who happen to naturally cross pollinate. Essentially life is being marketed...

[@loganmedia1142]

But that's the government's fault for allowing patent abuse. It's a problem that is much bigger than just food.

[@Yuzeyobe]

Ugh, thank you for this. I get so tired of “health influencers” going around groceries stores and making huge and vague claims about random foods that are perfectly fine, and saying how you shouldnt eat them. GMO’s are a hot bullet point for them.