Robyn O'Brien at TEDxAustin 2011

Robyn shares her personal story and how it inspired her current path as a "Real Food" evangelist. Grounded in a successful Wall Street career that was more interested in food as good business than good-for-you, this mother of four was shaken awake by the dangerous allergic reaction of one of her children to a "typical" breakfast. Her mission to unearth the cause revealed more about the food industry than she could stomach, and impelled her to share her findings with others. Informative and inspiring.

About this speaker

Robyn authored "The Unhealthy Truth: How Our Food Is Making Us Sick and What We Can Do About It." A former Wall Street food industry analyst, Robyn brings insight, compassion and detailed analysis to her research into the impact that the global food system is having on the health of our children. She founded allergykidsfoundation.org and was named by Forbes as one of "20 Inspiring Women to Follow on Twitter." The New York Times has passionately described her as "Food's Erin Brockovich."

http://allergykidsfoundation.org

http://twitter.com/unhealthytruth

Before we released our speaker's names, we featured a series of Speaker Teasers. Here, Robyn's:

Real food, is that too much to ask;

Big industry, I take to task;

It's time that we reclaim our plates;

from food forced into altered states.

• Category

  Nonprofits & Activism

[Safiyah Blake]

monsanto would execute her as she departed the stage.

[Cinnamon Vogue]

I have looked at the Cancer rates in my country of birth Sri Lanka which is at 95 per 100,000 while the US is at near 400 per 100,000. Other than high Ceylon Cinnamon consumption rates, the difference is the almost complete absense of GM food. Mexico too had low cancer and diabetes rates. Ever since they started allowing US food their diabetes rates have sky rocketed and I am confident cancer rates will also increase to US levels in another 10-15 years.

[Erin Rife]

I think her goal was spreading knowledge. If I were her, I would have had a very hard time not inserting expletives about the corruption of America's capitalism and how our GD FDA is a giant JOKE. She did a good job of giving the facts without flying off the handle. She's speaking to a room full of powerful leaders with connections. She gave them the information so they could decide for themselves what they would like to do about it. She led them to the water, it's their turn to drink.

[organicsuperman]

Bring on the organic revolution. It always tastes so much better.

[imimim1]

very informative except at the end....she should let people know what exactly that one thing they should do to stop mega poisoners like monsanto from completely killing us all. she should give a list of things of choices people can make to actually effect change. it should not be assumed that people know...just as she did not know until her third child was affected. thank you

[ecofriendlyS]

Why would I want to pay money for chemicaly treated and GMO food if I am much happier to eat weeds in my backyard for free. Weeds are the most nutritional food you ever can find. Animals much smarter then human and that's why they don't suffer with diabities and cancer.

[Spencer Payne]

Amar. I do understand the difference between conspiracy theories and truism. I read the info re GMOs. I still do not think they are good for humans. The reason I am so high on "natural" foods is that I have personally enjoyed the benefits. Due to chronic illnesses I experienced 25 years ago, I completely changed my dietary lifestyle thanks to Information I found in a book by Ann Wigmore entitled "Why Suffer". You should read it. I am not a proselytizer I just know what works.

[Amar Mirza]

That book has nothing to do with GMOs... But I'm glad you understand the value of properly done population health research. You should see what the literature says about GMOs.

[Amar Mirza]

We already have massive population health studies which support my position. Your position has as much evidence as most other conspiracy theories, none.

[Spencer Payne]

Please read The China Study by T. Colin Campbell Where the scientific method has been applied, tested and confirmed. You will be convinced I assure you.

[Spencer Payne]

Amar, how in the world can you even think such a thought! Is your head so deeply in your sand that you cannot see the trees? Contact me in another 30 years and tell me how your experiment in eating turns out...

[Spencer Payne]

Passed High School Physics.  Simple. By changing ones diet. Duh. Scientific experiment. Surely you learned that in high school.