I’m so excited because this coming week I have been asked to participate on a panel discussion about the current state of Food and Fear. The event, Food and Fear: How to Find Facts in Today’s Culture of Alarmism, is hosted by the Independent Women’s Forum and features several other notable panelists. You can find out more about the event taking place on February 16, 2017 in St. Louis, Missouri (and register!) here.
But an unlikely person is also really excited about the event and wants you to attend: Food Babe.
@thefoodbabe @MonsantoCo Disappointed you can’t make it, Vani! Could learn a few things! No worries – I’ll write up a blog post!
— Farmers Daughter (@farmdaughterusa) February 10, 2017
Now, before I continue, I recently realized I have to provide an introduction to Food Babe because her influence and recognition appear to be waning quite severely. Vani Hari was a computer science person working in IT when she decided to quit her job and become a full-time social media celebrity. Transforming herself into Food Babe, she has used her website and Facebook page as a platform to criticize everything about the food industry, particularly the use of any kind of chemicals and genetically modified crops. At the height of her influence, she “consulted” Subway into removing a consistency chemical from their breads that she claimed was also found in yoga mats. Lacking a basic understanding of science, Vani has made quite a living peddling bad food information, attacking companies, and teaming up with other woonatics.
Vani wasn’t too fond of my offer to write up a blog post for her.
@thefoodbabe Sweetie, I’m the lawyer here, not you. That wasn’t defamatory. Probably should stick to what you know – computers. 😉
— Farmers Daughter (@farmdaughterusa) February 10, 2017
Vani is referring to me calling her out for getting paid for the work she does, while acting like she’s just doing it out of the goodness of her heart. The irony is so thick here. Vani will claim anyone that disagree with her is a “paid shill” by a big agriculture company, usually Monsanto (and no, I am not paid by Monsanto). Yet, as soon as someone calls her out for actually getting paid money for the things she does, she starts throwing the defamation word around and making legal threats.
Yawn.
I’m so excited about this event because it will be an opportunity to really discuss the use of fear-based messaging in food and how damaging it is. So many people have told me that they appreciate the work I do because they can now go to the grocery store and shop without fear. That anyone should feel worry, anxiety, or upset when they go grocery shopping absolutely breaks my heart. I have so much trust in our agriculture system and our family farmers. I’m confident in the food we produce and consumers should feel the same way.
For once in my life though, I really hope you will consider taking Vani’s advice – if you’re in the St. Louis, MO area, please consider attending our Food and Fear event! I would love to see you there and meet you. I would love for you to participate in this conversation. Let’s raise awareness of food fears and those that perpetrate them.
And perhaps you can also tell Vani all about what she missed!!
Keep telling the truth maybe they will listen at some point.