Original article (in Bosnian) was published on 27/11/2024; Author: Marija Manojlović
A video is being shared on social media in which Australian naturopath Barbara O’Neill falsely claims that a law has been passed in Russia designating the cultivation and trade of genetically modified food as terrorism.
On November 18, 2024, a reel was published on Facebook (archived), claiming that the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, passed a law declaring the cultivation and sale of genetically modified (GMO) food as terrorism. This claim is made in the video by Australian naturopath Barbara O’Neill. The video also includes subtitles in our language, stating the following:
Did you know that Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, passed a law that any Russian who grows or sells GMO food is considered a terrorist? He even gives land to Russians who will grow organic food without GMOs.
In addition to the claim about Putin’s law, O’Neill also asserts that GMO food “can damage DNA”.
The video was shared in our region in July and September 2023. The July post is no longer available.
The claim that Putin declared GMO food as terrorism has circulated on social media even before Barbara O’Neill’s video. For example, we found it in a Facebook post from August 2019.
Who is Barbara O’Neill?
Fact-checking platform Raskrinkavanje has previously debunked false claims made by Australian naturopath Barbara O’Neill (1, 2). As mentioned in a 2021 analysis, the Health Care Complaints Commission of New South Wales, Australia, permanently banned O’Neill from providing any health services in 2019. The decision stated that O’Neill was an unregistered medical practitioner without the appropriate qualifications, degrees, or membership in any accredited health organization. She was found to be offering naturopathy, nutrition, and health education services beyond her training and expertise, posing a risk to public health and safety due to her dubious and dangerous claims.
What Are Genetically Modified Organisms (Gmos)?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) website, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are organisms whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering technology.
GMOs are defined as organisms (plants, animals, or microorganisms) whose DNA has been modified in a way that does not occur naturally through mating or natural recombination. This technology, often called “modern biotechnology”, “genetic technology”, or “recombinant DNA technology”, allows selected genes to be transferred from one organism to another, even between unrelated species. Food produced from or using GM organisms is commonly referred to as GM food.
As explained in a September 2023 analysis, this technology helps farmers grow crops more resistant to plant diseases or herbicides used to control weeds. In some cases, genetically modified food can have enhanced nutritional value. Most GMO crops are used for animal feed, but GMOs are also found in food products for human consumption.
The use of GMO food is a topic of much debate. The WHO states that GMO food currently available on the international market is “unlikely” to pose a risk to human health. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also considers GMO food safe for consumption.
Is the Cultivation and Sale of GMO Food Considered Terrorism in Russia?
The video in which Barbara O’Neill claims that Putin passed a law declaring the cultivation and sale of GMO food as terrorism has gone viral before. These claims have already been debunked by Montenegro’s Raskrinkavanje and Africa Fact Check.
These platforms concluded that while Russia has laws prohibiting the import and cultivation of GMO food (except in rare cases), violations result in fines, not terrorism charges.
In June 2016, the Russian State Duma and the Federation Council passed a law amending regulations related to genetic engineering, signed by Putin in early July 2016. According to the Federation Council’s website:
The law prohibits the cultivation of genetically modified plants and animals in Russia, except for research and scientific purposes.
Importers of relevant organisms and products must undergo registration procedures.
The government of the Russian Federation has the right to ban the import of certain organisms and products based on monitoring results.
The law outlines financial penalties for violations:
Individuals: 10,000 to 50,000 rubles (approximately €80 to €430)
Legal entities: 100,000 to 500,000 rubles (approximately €850 to €4,270)
Russian media also reported on the law’s adoption, mentioning these fines (1, 2).
As stated on the website of the Genetic Literacy Project (a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting scientific literacy), in 2020, Putin signed the Food Security Doctrine, which bans the import and distribution of GMOs for cultivation and prohibits the breeding and reproduction of animals with modified genetic codes.
The only exception to the ban is the import and cultivation of GMO crops for research purposes. Additionally, the import of GMO food (such as soy) for consumption is permitted.
The claim about labelling GMO producers as terrorists may have originated from statements by some Russian officials. For example, in May 2014, RT published an article about a draft law regulating GMO use submitted to the Russian parliament. The draft suggested that severe violations could result in criminal charges comparable to those for terrorism. However, this was a comparison of penalties, not a declaration that GMO producers are terrorists. Ultimately, the adopted law only imposed financial penalties.
In the video, O’Neill claims that Putin gives land to Russians willing to grow organic food without GMOs. This likely refers to a 2016 law signed by Putin, which granted land in Russia’s Far East to anyone willing to settle there. Media reports from 2016 indicate that the program aimed to increase the population in these sparsely inhabited regions. After five years, participants could gain ownership of the land if they proved it had been used during that time.
The claim that Vladimir Putin passed a law declaring the cultivation and sale of GMO food as terrorism is rated as fake news. Other posts sharing this claim are categorized as the distribution of fake news.
