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

Terry replied on

Your right, Whole foods is not the problem, and Monsanto is only the tip of the corruption. The corruption caused when corporations and government intertwine themselves. When you have agribusiness execs heading up the FDA, energy execs at the DOE, banking and financial industry execs controlling the fed, it becomes clear the problem is much bigger than just Monsanto controlling our food supply. Until we can kill corporate personhood, and remove their influence, ( ie: money), from government decisions, bills, regulations,and laws, we will continue on this path of draining society from all directions of our quality of life.

Anonymous replied on

Is this just hearsay, and a rumor? There's no documentation in the article, or quotes from any one at either Whole Foods or Monsanto -- there seems to be no documented research.

If the claims in the article are true, Monsanto and Whole Foods stocks would likely both be affected, along with many others' stock values, including any traded companies anchored in organic farming.

Yet NO major business reporting outlets seem to have picked this story up -- only organic farming sites have reported on this, and they seem to all be getting the claims and info from each other.

IS THIS ARTICLE EVEN TRUE? Please document in some way....

DGLold replied on

Try a Google search "whole foods gmo" for some background information on Whole Foods. This blurb article was about "caving" to Monsanto not providing a research article on Whole Foods. I have read and known about WF Natural vs Organic issue for years and no longer enter their stores. I shop a coop or farmers market or grow my own.

For more information on this problem and yes I believe it is a huge problem, research and read other articles at ogranicconsumers.org (OCA). Also since Monsanto's latest and greatest approved GMO (mentioned in the blurb is Roundup Resistant crops) utilizes spraying alfalfa with Roundup to kill weeds without affecting the alfalfa. Wonder were the Roundup goes? Into the soil and on the alfalfa maybe. What eats the alfalfa? Maybe cattle and other grazing animals. Cattle becomes the beef available in the marketplace and beef consumers can end up ingesting Roundup.

Recent research found the active ingredient in Roundup caused cancer and birth defect in lab animals. A recent article discusses the impact of Roundup on humans (infertility and cancer) and other problem ares.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/11/round-up-cancer-cause_n_847423.html

Sorry for going so far afield, but as I said it is a huge problem and thank you for reading.

Keep Talking replied on

2 excellent documentaries to let you in on the Monsanto secret:
David & Monsanto and The World According to Monsanto Linktv.org

Anonymous replied on

yup and now that there is a request to deregulate GE 2-4-D (50% component of Agent Orange) resistant Corn it won't matter if Whole Foods has bowed down. Anything not organic will most likely be contaminated.

Not to mention, even 'organic' doesn't mean it's really ALL organic.

Labeling IS the only way to allow the consumers to make the choice for themselves.

Anonymous replied on

Monsanta has been systematically eliminating all farming that doesn't utilize its seed. It sells seed to farmer, and the farmer must promise not to 'keep' (recover) seed from the new crop. If they do they sue. So each year the farmer must buy new seed. Obviously, the seed will spread to neighboring fields, and then Monsanto will sue the neigbors for stealing their seed, and they usually win. When they do, they settle with the neighbor contingent upon THEM now using only their seed. Like the Nazi's crossing Europe, so goes Monsanto.

Anon2 replied on

For a site that says it's reporting on spin & disinformation, I'm sort of surprised to find such spin being reported as "news."
Yes, Monsanto would love to control our entire food supply. But the idea that one day Whole Foods (WF) said "OK" to the practice is misleading. In an LA Times story on June 22, 2011, the quality standards coordinator at WF said that stocking only non-GMO ingredients is difficult because there is no labeling standard. That's the real story here - we need labeling. From the article, which is titled Debate Rages Over Labeling Biotech Foods: "If companies say genetic engineering is fine, then OK, let's label it and let the consumers make their own decisions," said Michael Hansen, a senior scientist at Consumers Union, which publishes Consumer Reports. "That's what all the free-market supporters say. So let's let the market work properly."
Boycotting WF is pointless. Buying organic solves the problem for you. Getting GMO products labeled is the solution for all. What can you do? Here's a blog with some suggestions http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2011/08/22/labeling-genetically-modified-foods/
Note: I'm not affiliated with Monsanto, WF or the blog I linked to. I just did some research; it's what I do.

LoneStarLaurel replied on

THANKS, very much, for the clarifications re labelling & labelling regulations..
In these busy & changing times it isn't easy to keep up-to-date.
I intend to begin researching with your suggestions and see just what can be done about labelling issues, then follow up..

Next up: COUNTRY of ORIGIN labelling for all foods.
I'm really tired of looking in the produce section and seeing, "Mexico/USA".
Like, that is news you can use?
Or. zero origin info given with other types of foods.
For instance: grains, sweeteners, coffees, teas, nuts, dried fruits, herbs, dairy products prepared foods etc

Best kitchen supply solution is getting to be buying directly from producers or growing it yourself. Food co-opping w/ like-minded people works well for many reasons. Among them is that procurement & research duties can be shared and bulk orders save money. And much more. The adage, "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts". is proven w this.

Most reliable quality in prepared food? Food made in your own kitchen or in kitchens of those you trust.

Anonymous replied on

I will check this out. After all oh I know yes Monsanto along with DOW chemical company manufactured Agent Orange, they claim there is no conclusive link and have settled out of court hmmmmmm. If you are not aware of the damage this chemical caused look no further than videos easily found on you tube of the cancers and the chromosomal deformites that are now down to third generation . Our military was exposed, but apparently As both companies claim there is not a correlation. But I am going to try and see if this is true or not Oh yes there was a rainbow of colors purple, check it out

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