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

Rahim replied on

I am a scientist too and go by the facts:

(1) Here is a Scientific American article about the toxicity to humans of Roundup:

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=weed-whacking-herbicide-p

(2) Next consider the tactics that Monsanto uses to exercise control over the seed supply. In India, Monsanto seeds simply don't work compared to the local varieties, yet the company uses false advertizing to convince farmers otherwise, many of whom have committed suicide after failure of their crops.

(3) In the US, if a farmer's field are contaminated with GMO seeds, Monsanto goes against the farmer with a vengeance using their huge legal resources and machinery.

I would like to know which products contain GMO material so I can avoid buying them for the above 3 reasons.

Old lady Dee Cota replied on

Anything you buy that is prepackaged will almost always have GMO's, so avoid anything that comes in a package, although if you do buy prepackage food, look for any type of soy, everything made with corn in every form, canola oils, aspartame,sorbitol, sugar free candies, chocolate ice cream,
look for cane sugar, otherwise all sugar comes from GMO sugar beets,
most artificial flavorings, check the label for long chemical names, that
you can't pronounce. Ingredients like cellulosr, mono,diglycerides.
If you are really interested in avoiding GMO's go to this website to get
a list http://www.foodinsight.org Hope that helps. I've been an organic vegetarian for 40 years.

fedupchuck replied on

Thanks for your comments.
I've been organic for years, depending on farmers markets in the northwest.
I have gone to whole foods and recently asked about corn on the cob for sale.
I was told it COULD be gmo and that whole foods caters to a wide range of people with different wants.
I knew then that it was a lost cause.
All is run for and by money at this time so we organic humans are fighting a real battle.
I will go to the food in sight website to see what they offer, thanks.

Anonymous replied on

They are legalized mofia. They have you coming and going. With their hand in the pharmaceutical world as well as the seed world. Their goal is to kill us all by the foods we eat that DO cause cancer, and then we have to go to the hospitals to "healing" and "help," of which we know that there isn't any.
I feel for the farmers that are now plagued with them. They are tyrants that will run and ruin you/ their lives.
They have become so big....BUT, the bigger they are the harder they will fall. Only problem is they are in bed with the Government. If they can tell a news station WHAT or WHAT NOT to say. The OWNER of this company is like The hitler of today. They SEEM untouchable. But, God has a way of dealing with these types of people. They don't care about the people of this country not really. They are legalized to kill and destroy, literally. You will never convince me that they have not done this already and will continue to do so.
NOT only this, but they are ruining the economy, because other countries will not buy from us. IE: Alfalfa and so much more. WE need to stick together with this. The louder the voice, the more they will listen. Hopefully, Goliath will need to be reckoned with. AND just like in the Bible HE will fall.
The Owner of this company has to be someone who does not care about people at all. He's a tyrant and obviously has no heart for others. He is a killer in his own right. Obviously, his parents did not train him well at all. They raised a MONSTER.

Anonymous replied on

What kind of so called science can support the fact that Monsanto has been spending millions of dollars to prevent proper food labeling?? Why are they so afraid to promote GMO products if it so safe?
They are plenty of corrupt “scientists” willing to say things that are not true!
Pesticide cannot be metabolized in the human body there for it will remain in the liver once inside the body once and for all!
So you telling me that the only pesticide they use on the crops are weed killer? Then how do you explain that many fruits and vegetable do not have worms in it? Any of us that grew up on a farm or at least had been fortunate enough to have access to organically grown product knows that organically grown products always had worm in it, birds left their beak marks on them. Cancer develops in decades not in days or months! Harmful chemicals are not the only problem here. GMO products can contain human DNA

Biomedical Scie... replied on

Chemistry PhD....not in this lifetime, or you have had your head up you a&& for about 20 years! I just retired from an almost 40 yr career that started with a BS in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, MS in BioMedical and Health Sciences, MS in Clinical Research, & MS in Cellular and Genetic Biology. I also hold a PhD in Molecular Pathobiology, in addition to a BioMedical Sciences, PhD. My parents always said that when you stop learning, you stop living, and I agree.

That said, HOW are YOU not aware of the enormous amount of data that has been collected, by numerous scholars conducting multiple laboratory studies that all corroborate the fact that GMO's are unsafe for human consumption AND detrimental to the environment. The only theory I can perceive is that YOU are an employee of one of these government supported "Chemical Eugenicists" ie Monsanto, DuPont, Bayer, etc. As a chemist, you should know the rest. Another theory is that you are a "go with the flow of money" Professor of some University that has received A LOT of GRANT MONEY from the "Devil Dogs" of science.

I will concede that you are correct in saying that "weed killers kill weeds," but they also KILL ANIMALS, we the people are animals also!!!! Wheat flour dust is in fact flammable, but we KNOW that and take precautions. We also know that there is approximately 6.5 million auto accidents in the US per year, but again, WE KNOW THAT!!! The point is that WE KNOW and WE CHOOSE to use weed killers or drive our cars, but we don't get the option to CHOOSE whether we are exposed to Genetically Engineered Foods because the "Food Terriorists" have managed to BUY the FDA/USDA. If you are "really in the dark" about the enormous and collaborative data supporting the dangers of Genetically Engineered Foods, then please do your own research and read the book "Seeds of Destruction" by F. William Engdahl, you might just learn a thing or two that they did not teach in graduate school!

As I stated before, I am "retired!" I sold my company and I have no monetary obligation to anyone, so I am doing my OWN STUDY of GMO's, I have the credentials, I have the Genetically Engineered Food available at any grocery, and I have the rats and equipment. What I find, I will publish!! Now you know why I don't include MY NAME, the Monsanto Mafia would be at my door by morning.

fedupchuck replied on

WOW- ignorance comes in many forms.
Education is a good thing.
The country of France sued Monsanto and won.
Monsanto lied about the poison in their weed killer for years and years.
Do you think Monsanto is now telling the truth?
Are there any monies involved--get the picture of today's world yet??
Look that up before you call anyone besides yourself ignorant.
Go back to your microscope and eat your gmo's.
You are being called out as the ignorant liar in this case.

Anonymous replied on

LOL please prove you aren't a corporately sponsored bootlicker, or we can ignore your pretentious "scientific" [I see no citations for your bullshitty claims, some academic you are!] posturings.

Anonymous replied on

I don't get you, whole foods are the good guys. Its not their fault that people don't know the difference between "natural" and "certified organic". Do you trust whats on the shelves at the supermarket? Then why not question this place too? They don't claim to be a 100% organic place. Don't go against someone who's trying to help!

Anonymous replied on

They are( WFM) not trying to help!!!
Which part of this you don’t understand??? "Natural" products can come from crops and animals fed nutrients containing GMOs. "Certified Organic" products are GMO-free.

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