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

Anonymous replied on

This is a false accusation... look it up!

http://wholefoodsmarket.com/blog/whole-story/gmomonsanto-buyout-rumors-untrue?page=10

Anonymous replied on

Always know the WFM is a fraud ever since I’ve seen garbage from Mexico and South America!
GMO=CANCER!! F you Whole food Market!! F you MONSANTO We’re coming for you.

Biomedical Scie... replied on

I am sorry, but you cannot blame the markets for what goes into your mouth if you are already aware of GMO's and the very loose use of the word "Natural" in the marketing of foods. I f you know about GMO's, then you know what foods are now Genetically Engineered, so it is YOUR job to READ the labels. "Whole Foods" is a name as is "Kroger or Publix," none of which states "Certified Organic." Nothing in their marketing states that they are totally "Certified Organic." I know we are all looking for someone that we can trust to provide us with safe and healthy food. Unfortunately, because the FDA/USDA is in bed with the ChemAgri companies, the ONLY people we can TRUST is person that looks back at you from the mirror! We have to stop complaining about grocery stores and turn that anger towards the REAL culprits, that is the ONLY way we are going to be sure. Take time to write the congressman in your state, and if you have time write ALL of them. They may not represent your state, but they represent "We The People." Whole Foods is the needle in the haystack, and the only way to find the needle is to burn the haystack down! The haystack is there to burn, but the government regulatory agencies are the only people with the match! To get them to act, "We The People" are going to have to hold their feet to the flames. Collectively we will be heard, individually it is not going to happen. Think about this, if you were in a bar or restaurant where YOU were the ONLY person being loud what would happen? Your butt would be ask to be quiet or leave. Now compare that to a bar or restaurant were EVERYONE was yelling.....you think the management would throw everyone out, not on your life. Just start Screaming!!

Anonymous replied on

If you are upset that whole foods stopped this legal battle with monsanto why don't you pick up where they left off and hire a legal team to fight for whats right? oh because you don't have the money or political pull to fight monsanto in a court? well neither does whole foods. yes its a shame.

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