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What Does The Perfect GMO Label Look Like?

Many consumers are concerned about what's in today's food. GMO labels will allow consumers to understand more about how their food was produced. We want consumers to tell us what the perfect label looks like.

Many consumers are concerned about what's in today's food. GMO labels will allow consumers to understand more about how their food was produced. We want consumers to tell us what the perfect label looks like.

GMO 101

We paired up a mom of two boys, Colleen Cecil, with Dr. Denneal Jamison-McClung, Associate Director of the Biotech Program at the University of California-Davis, to get a baseline understanding of what GMOs are, what they do in the plant and where you can find them in the grocery store.  

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Are GMO Foods Less Nutritious?

Registered Dietitian and past president of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietietics, Connie Diekman, links up with Farrah Brown, a part-time nurse and full-time mom, to talk about whether GM foods are more or less nutritious than other foods.

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GMO Labeling

We dove into the topic of GMO labeling with Dr. Ruth MacDonald, chair of and professor in the department of food science and human nutrition at Iowa State University, and Chicago mom Joelen Tan of What's Cookin', Chicago?. Those in favor of GMO labeling say it's a matter of "right-to-know." Those opposed to it say it could invoke fear in consumers and offers no additional nutritional information. What do you think?

genetically engineered food; right to know; no on prop 37; yes on prop 37; prop37; california ballot initiative; What Do You Know About GMO food? A 5-part video series. GMO Labeling Voice over: Do you want to learn more about foods grown with genetically-modified organisms? We talked to consumers to find out what topics they most wanted to know about in order to cut through the confusion. Then we gave them the chance to meet with an expert to ask the tough questions. Here’s what one consumer wanted to know about GMO labeling… Music Segue – A Consumer’s Questions (graphic with ?) Few seconds of each. Joelen: • When it comes to GMOs I know there are two sides. When I had spoken with some friends, our understanding is pretty gray. A lot of my friends fall into pro-labeling—as do I (01:12:11:00) Ruth: • I think that consumers today want to know what’s in their food and that’s a good thing (02:11:13:00) • As in educator that’s what I do. Try to develop scientists who are knowledgeable about food and can share that knowledge with others (02:11:28:00). • Consumers are bombarded with constant information about things they should avoid. And it’s very challenging for people to sort through that information (02:09:13:00) Parents’ Questions • I started looking at nutrition labels when I was pregnant (01:13:04:00). • And about a year ago I found out that I have a gluten intolerance (01:12:23:00) • How do I know what exactly is GMO? (19:53:40) • When it comes to GMO products is there a difference between the label—standard vs what’s on a GMO label? (20:27:47:00) • If we were required to label GMOs how does that change the industry? (20:45:34:00) Music segue • The truth is, hardly anything in the produce aisle is GMO except papaya and this sweet corn, which is not all that different from traditional breeding (from original rough cut)- with #1 graphic • The standard nutrition label in the U.S. is to provide factual information about the nutritional value of the food itself (20:28:28:00). And the FDAs position on GMO labeling is there is no difference in the nutritional value(20:24:14:00) – with #2 graphic • It wouldn’t change the nutritional value or the ingredient list. It would only be information about how that crop or ingredient was produced (20:29:49:00). We don’t have a current requirement because it doesn’t change the quality of the food (20:30:10:00) • When you start to look at ingredients through the GMO component, it changes depending on the way it was extracted. For example, if you take out the oil, there is no protein. (20:30:52:00) So in reality corn oil doesn’t have any GMO in it (20:31:12:00) • The confusion would come in because people could misconstrue that a GMO is a warning label. And that’s not truthful, there’s no evidence of this (20:32:31:00) - #3 graphic • I think it would have a huge impact on the price of food, there would need to be a regulation and a law with criteria (20:45:55:00). I think it would have a huge impact on what we see in the store and the price of food (20:45:55:00) • I think you have to look at all the aspects of the implications and weigh the risks and benefits (20:47:51:00) • Existing full intro clips • For Ruth: Add: o One of the fun things about my job is actually getting a chance to talk to talk to consumers because I feel like there is a lot of misinformation about nutrition. (02:33:50) • “The participants in this video were not paid for their time or opinions” • Include Joele full intro • “Expert content is independent an based on professional and academic expertise” • Ruth full intro • This five-part video series on GMOs was developed by [insert CFI logo) • Do you have more questions about GMOs? Watch the other videos in the series and keep the dialogue going at www.bestfoodfacts.org GMO Labeling: What Do You Know About GMOs? is meant to answer questions from real consumers about our food as explained by the nation’s leading experts

Genetically Modified Crops Harm Environment?

In this video focusing on impacts GM crops have on the environment, a mom from California, Karri Hammerstrom, asks tough questions of environmental scientist Dr. Cecilia Chi-Ham from the Public Intellectual Property Resource for Agriculture at the University of California-Davis.

Content/Messages What Do You Know About GMO food? A 5-part video series. Environmental Impacts Voice over: Do you want to learn more about foods grown with genetically-modified organisms? We talked to consumers to find out what topics they most wanted to know about in order to cut through the confusion. Then we gave them the chance to meet with an expert to ask the tough questions. Here’s what one consumer wanted to know about the environmental impacts of GMOs… Music Segue with Graphic: A Consumer’s Questions Few seconds of each. Karrie: • “I think that the average consumer or the average mom’s understanding of GMOs is not as extensive as it should be” (01:11:54:00) • “Although I’ve spent a lot of time researching GMOs, I’m concerned about the health of GMOs and our family’s choices—I do feel there is a lot that I don’t know. Cecelia: • “My background is in environmental science, biochemistry and organic chemistry and how these sciences can come together to result in the development of crops that are going to feed to world (13:20:55:00) • “How I started this journey was actually through environmental sciences and recognizing the importance of protecting the environment.” (13:23:08:00) • “The challenge that we face in agriculture requires us to be able to increase our productivity while also respecting the environment and using less resources” (09:48:33:00) Parents’ Questions • “I had an opportunity to reach out to my friends on Facebook and also texted some of my friends on what questions they would ask.” (01:17:15:00) • “When I talk to my friends about GMOs, a lot of them express concerns and there’s a certain fear” (10:15:20:00) • “They wanted to know, why are we using GMOs if they’re not sustainable, not environmentally friendly and don’t produce as much?” (01:19:24:00) • “What do GM crops do for us in terms of pesticide use?” (10:21:05:00) • “What are some of the benefits you’re seeing here and around the world? (09:48:20:00) • “I’m hoping we can get some of that information answered or some of those questions clarified.” (01:19:45:00) Music segue • “In the United States we have very good regulations on controlling how pesticides are applie”d (12:59:45:00). • “What we have seen since 1996 is a 10% decrease in overall use of pesticides” (10:21:27:00) – Graphic • “Farmers are telling us that when they grow GMO they are able to use less energy, less fuel. And that translates into reduced carbon dioxide….It would be the equivalent of removing all of the cars in Los Angeles, Texas or Florida for an entire year. So the benefits are significant and important.” (10:05:58:00) – Graphic #1 • “What we’ve seen in the past 15-20 years of working with GMO crops is a very clear increase in yield, particularly in developing countries. We see reduced use in pesticides, reduced CO2 and greenhouse gas emissions. So he benefits have been phenomenal” (12:10:34:00) – Graphic #2 • “The new research that we are doing right now would use biotechnology to actually reduce the amount of allergen proteins in peanuts so we could potentially have allergy-free peanuts in the future.” (11:29:43:00). “Gluten is a known allergen where biotech could play a role because we would be able to specifically remove those proteins that cause allergenicity and eliminate them from our food.” (11:30:18:00) – Graphic #3 • “One of the hardest things as a mother, consumer and farmer is finding credible information. Being able to talk to Cecelia, who is a scientist and researcher -- going directly to the source – is fantastic” (12:26:21:00) • “It gave me an opportunity where I can go back and talk to some of my friends and share what I learned.” • “I think that if more people had the opportunity I think they would have a much better understanding” (12:26:37:00) • “So one of the clear benefits is less pesticide use or lower pesticide use” (12:30:13:00)… “And that’s a big deal for me” (12:28:30:00) • “Expert content is independent an based on professional and academic expertise” • Include Kerri full intro • “Expert content is independent an based upon on professional and academic expertise” • Cecelia full intro • The five-part video series on GMOs was developed by [insert CFI logo) • Do you have more questions about GMOs? Watch the other four videos in the series and keep the dialogue going at www.bestfoodfacts.org Environmental Impacts: What Do You Know About GMOs? is meant to answer questions from real consumers about our food as explained by the nation’s leading experts

Are Genetically Modified Foods Dangerous To Eat?

This video explores the food safety issues related to GM foods through a conversation between an Illinois mom and blogger, Betsie Estes, and a plant molecular geneticist, Dr. Sally Mackenzie, from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Opening frame and topic What Do You Know About GMO food? A 5-part video series. GMO Safety Graphic and music to set up the topic Introduction Voice over: Do you want to learn more about foods grown with genetically-modified organisms? We talked to consumers to find out what topics they most wanted to know about in order to cut through the confusion. Then we gave them the chance to meet with an expert to ask the tough questions. Here’s what one consumer wanted to know about GMO safety… [Note: We removed the line “who is also a parent” and the word “science” before the word “expert”] Clips, fast paced Cue music with fast and short clips: • U of N sign • Betsie on Campus • Betsie and Sally shake hands • Betsie and Sally in grow room Music Segue with Graphic: A Consumer’s Questions [We removed the word “parent”] Betsie’s first question • How do you test to ensure the safety of GMOs for humans? (12:54:52:00) Clip Introductions Quick intros of participants Video with Graphic Graphic 1: “The Mom” • Betsie Estes • Mother of two • Works full time • Blogs at supersuburbs.com Graphic 2: “The Expert” • Dr. Sally Mackenzie [move graphic over to the left because it’s covering her face] • Plant Molecular Geneticist • University of Nebraska • Mother of two Set up the topic: Dramatic sequence of questions and statements from mom • The big challenge is finding good information (01:04:43:00) • I think that people are scared that all of these things are in their food and they worry about the long term implications (01:09:27:00) • As moms, we need one less thing to worry about (01:08:03:00) • So what does the science community say about GMOs? (01:21:48:00) [Move Betsie Quote: “So it’s not a monster soybean plant” to the section with Mackenzie in the greenhouse—make it part of the conversation] Clips See time stamps, certain clips will just be for voice over, use other footage of Betsie and Mackenzie in the green house and in the test fields Music segue Deliver the messages: • I’m part of the science community that thinks a lot about food safety because we work in the field. It’s fair to say that we are very proud of our perfect safety record (1:23:30:00) • We have taken precautions in terms of testing these products to the point that is far beyond any other type of agriculture (01:25:08:00) • Here is a soybean plant where we’re doing our testing and we know everything, then we’ll take this to the field (12:23:16:00) • So everything is discovered before we ever start thinking about the crop • It takes 10 years and $130 million (existing clip) • It must be approved by EPA, FDA and USDA—and not everything makes it through (existing clip) • We’ve been eating it for 20 years now and we have a perfect safety record-- No health issues no allergies record(1:23:30:00) or (01:22:02:00) Clips and Infographics Clips: See time stamp, use other footage of Betsie and Mackenzie in the green house and in the test fields Infographics: • 10-13 years + $130 million • (Logos) USDA, FDA, EPA • Testing must demonstrate equivalent nutrition and safety • We eat it every day = 0 Allergies, Health Issues Conclusion • Betsie: “So I shouldn’t be afraid to feed my kids GMO foods.” (15:45:30:00) • Mackenzie: “Right”15:44:49:00 [Take out her saying “no”] Conclusion: Betsie Recap • “The most surprising thing that I learned was the amount of time it takes to get from Dr. Mackenzie’s lab to our food…” (16:57:45:00) • “I really wish all moms could have this experience, to go to the source, because it’s been helpful to sit down and talk to somebody who has dedicated their life to this.” (16:59:00:00) [CFI – This ending is more aligned with their overall approach] Voice over clips Quick footage: grow room, green house, field Note: Do not have Mackenzie say to Betsie “get the sugar out of your kids’ diets” per client feedback. Music segue Full mom intro with Disclaimer #1 • “The participants in this video were not paid for their time or opinions” • Include Betsie full intro Graphic Full expert intro with Disclaimer #2 • “Expert content is independent an based on professional and academic expertise” • Dr. Mackenzie full intro Graphic Credit, part 1 • The five-part video series on GMOs was developed by [insert CFI logo) Graphic CFI logo Credit, part 2 • Do you have more questions about GMOs? Watch the other videos in the series and keep the dialogue going at www.bestfoodfacts.org Graphic Bestfoodfact.org logo Final frame, music fade out GMO Safety: What Do You Know About GMOs? is meant to answer questions from real consumers about our food as explained by the nation’s leading experts Graphic of title