Whole Foods Market Caves to Monsanto

Submitted by PRWatch Editors on

WholeFoodsMarketAfter 12 years of battling to stop Monsanto's genetically-engineered (GE) crops from contaminating the nation's organic farmland, the biggest retailers of "natural" and "organic" foods in the U.S., including Whole Foods Market (WFM), Organic Valley and Stonyfield Farm, have agreed to stop opposing mass commercialization of GE crops, like Monsanto's controversial Roundup Ready alfalfa.

In exchange for dropping their opposition, WFM has asked for "compensation" to be paid to organic farmers for "any losses related to the contamination of his crop." Under current laws, Genetically-Modified Organisms (GMOs) are not subject to any pre-market safety testing or labeling. WFM is abandoning its fight with biotech companies in part because two thirds of the products they sell are not certified organic anyway, but are really conventional, chemical-intensive and foods that may contain GMOs and that they market as "natural" despite this. Most consumers don't know the difference between "natural" and "certified organic" products. "Natural" products can come from crops and animals fed nutrients containing GMOs. "Certified Organic" products are GMO-free. WFM and their main distributor, United Natural Foods, maximize profits by selling products labeled "natural" at premium organic prices.  (A typographical error in the second sentence of this story was subsequently corrected.  We regret this minor error.)

Main Source: 
CounterPunch, January 28, 2011
Topics: 
Agriculture
Food Safety
Environment

Comments

Lynne Mayo replied on

Dear Grace G: I was interested to read your opinion. However, to accuse Ronnie Cummins of "spin and disinformation" without providing evidence is akin to spreading spin and disinformation~~. You said "there was no time now" to fill in the details. I hope you find the time in the near future. Otherwise the responsible thing to do, it seems to me, is to wait to level the accusations when you do have time to provide evidence.

I went on to read the full article by Mr. Cummins, and found it researched and informative.

Thank you.

Lynne

Lynne Mayo replied on

I have done more reading. Ronnie Cummins, in his article entitled, "What Now? The Organic Elite Surrenders to Monsanto", dated January 28>30, 2011 says,

"..the Organic Elite, spearheaded by Whole Foods Market, Organic Valley, and Stonyfield Farm, has decided it’s time to surrender to Monsanto. Top executives from these companies have publicly admitted that they no longer oppose the mass commercialization of GE crops, such as Monsanto’s controversial Roundup Ready alfalfa, and are prepared to sit down and cut a deal for "coexistence" with Monsanto and USDA biotech cheerleader Tom Vilsack."

This what Organic Valley has to say:

"WE STAND UNITED IN OPPOSITION TO GE ALFALFA

"January 31, 2011
"We stand united in opposition to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) decision to once again allow unlimited, nationwide commercial planting of Monsanto's genetically engineered (GE) Roundup Ready alfalfa, despite the many risks to organic and conventional farmers."

Would someone please sort this out?

Also, Mr. Cummin’s article is dated a year ago. What has changed, if anything, since then?

Thanks again,

Lynne

Anonymous replied on

You are expressing opinion as fact here - much like Fox News.
Now, I am not a big fan of Whole Food or UNFI, but please get your facts straight. Yes, it is true that Whole Foods and UNFI carry products that are not organic. Just about any corn, soy or canola that is not organic is going to be GMO. The people who run the grain mills cannot afford to keep the GMO Grain and non-GMO grain separate and to verify/certify that they are kept separate. And the industrial food producers do not care anyway, so they don't demand it. The only way we can get them to care is to demand labeling of GE/GMO food. Then they will have to deal with keeping it separate, which will be costly to the grain mills, and likely increase our cost. Here is an article that clearly explains the situation, without taking sides:
http://www.fitnessgoop.com/2011/02/the-gmo-battle-does-whole-foods-support-monsanto%E2%80%99s-genetically-engineered-alfalfa/

Doug Haning replied on

You are making sweeping generalizations about grain mills. I visited Bob's Red Mill a month ago. Everything is kept separate and they are doing well. I even saw Bob. He appeared to be happy with an untroubled conscious. I also have several corn products from Sam Mills. The packages clearly state "100% Natural Ingredients" and "GMO Free". No claim to be organic. The claims they do make are certified by the University of Surrey in England.

Anonymous replied on

We shop for all our bulk flours & grains at Bobs Red Mill too. He is a lovely man, with a trustworthy demeanor, who I've had my picture taken with. The pre-baked bread we buy is usually Killer Daves, from the Bakery right across the street from Bob's outlet. Their family has been baking whole grain organic bread since the 1950s & we've taken the factory tour. We shop at New Seasons & farmer's markets, never at WF!

Chris Kovacs replied on

Thanks

Anonymous replied on

This isn't the first time WF has caved on this issue. I love your excuse but it's not valid for me. This is more reason for me to boycott WF. Thanks for the info.

Anonymous replied on

The Problem is not that Whole Foods caved in Again! It is simply that our Corporate Run Government still supports GMO at all! Round-Up children need more pharmaceuticals, they will grow better into programmable factory workers (Opps no factories left here in the US) and this is just a small little fractal bit of this back wards system!
Blessings! Love! and Light! to us all! Welcome the New Energies of LOVE in 2012!!!

nutritionaldoc replied on

It is difficult to take you seriously when in the end of your commentary you state..."without taking sides" That was actually amusing as in your opening statement you state..."like Fox News"
Media Matters, Huffington Post and every left swinging outlet regularly provides their biased opinion.

Terri Robson replied on

Everyone who is concerned about this onslaught of GMO into our lives without any proof of it's being a better product and will feed the world should look up this site.

www.responsibletechnology.org

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