Wheat Wars portrays Dr. William Davis is the author of the influential bestseller “Wheat Belly,” widely considered the bible for those who avoid wheat. A charismatic man who sees genetically modified wheat as a pervasive health threat. The film presents his claims while questioning the lack of scientific evidence behind them.
As more and more doctors advise patients with diagnosed food intolerances to stay away from wheat and gluten, Davis equates all North American wheat with “garbage” and declares it an addictive opiate, All persons who consume it pose a risk. Consumers are not taking his claims lightly — businesses including major grain makers and commercial bakeries have felt a major negative impact on sales since the wheat-free craze began, with some stores forced to close entirely.
CBC’s Mark Kelley interviewed Canadian nutritionists and researchers, including McGill University’s Joe Schwartz, to refute Davis’ claims. Schwartz is just one of many subjects arguing that there is no hard science to back up his crusade against wheat. He claims that the evidence Davis cites in his book is “cherry-picked” data that has been manipulated to look more convincing than it should be. Likewise, nutrition expert Yoni Freedhoff likened Davis to an evangelical preacher, a performer full of promises but little substance. Perhaps worst of all, no registered health organization—not even the Canadian Celiac Association—supports eliminating wheat for those who have not been diagnosed with celiac disease.
So why is the anti-Mc craze so popular? Health Policy Professor and “Is Gwyneth Paltrow All Wrong?” Timothy Caulfield has linked celebrity influence on fad diets to the popularity of wheat-free diets, and indeed, Davis has garnered a lot of attention from major talk shows and Hollywood celebrities alike.
A provocative look at the dizzying landscape of food and nutritional science, The Wheat Wars reveals the minimal impact science can have in dissuading the public from believing that genetically modified crops pose a serious health threat, and leaves viewers wondering when they should believe about food consumption beliefs.
