Submitted by PRWatch Editors on
After 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.)
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Lisa Graves replied on Permalink
a single email to contact usda and members of congress
That's simply not good enough. Asking for a quick contact to your member of congress in this situation is a weak reed under the circumstances and more like a c.y.a. move, in my opinion.
Had the companies used their power to walk away from the table and escalate public awareness, along with a sustained and heightened campaign against the false "two choices" of the Monsanto lobbied USDA would have been a real response.
What I think is sad is the number of people willing to be apologists for Whole Foods on this.
But what is really sad is that GMO alfalfa is now going to be widely used.
Ken Roseboro replied on Permalink
Whole Foods, Stonyfield Farms, and Organic Valley
This article is wrong. Whole Foods, Stonyfield, and OV have not agreed to stop the mass commercialization of GE crops. They are funding legal action to stop GE alfalfa and sugar beets.
With GE alfalfa, the USDA was either going to deregulate the crop witout restrictions or partially deregulate it with restrictions. WF, Stonyfield and OV supported the second option because that was the only choice they had. Word spread by a misleading blog from Organic Consumers Association that WF, Stonyfield, and OV "surrendered to Monsanto," which was totally untrue.
Instead of using a circular firing squad to attack leading supporters of organic foods, we need to focus on fighting Monsanto and the biotech industry.
Instead of protesting or boycotting Whole Foods why not protest the conventional supermarket giants like Safeway who don't care that GMOs are in 75% of their products.
At least Whole Foods is doing something about GMOs by putting their own brand products through a non-GMO verification program, the Non-GMO Project.
Anonymous replied on Permalink
USA's Bottom Line
The sad part about all this is the money being lost to other countries who have figured out that it will be a financial advantage, as well as healthier for their citizens, to actually export GMO free crops. Ireland is the latest behind Egypt and Japan. When will we wake up. We could have been one of the leaders in wind, also. Now that money goes to Europe and China!
Anonymous replied on Permalink
OH NO!! This is so terrible
OH NO!! This is so terrible for the world!! Monsanto is eating up every last bit of healthy all over the world. Canada farmers are overwhelmed. In India it's ruining farmers and land, water, and eating up every spice/herb and rice to either ruin competition or steal it and make a patent on it and then make even more $$ when it comes to the states. It must be so difficult for the real organic companies to hold the line against the abusive, aggressive big chemical/poison makers/distributors. I keep thinking of the movie classic "Soylent Green", how all that was left was soy beans and once the master plant had died the crackers were made out of people. The poison known as soy(bean) in any form is being pushed into virtually every product, and hawked as healthy (the crap ruins the health of the body). Then the BGH, which is SOOOO bad for the glandular system (of which 70% of the immune system is in the digestive system), that poison should be banned!!! And the antibiotics that are used on the animals and random tests done to give a false stamp on the end product that it is free from antibiotics... all manipulations and sleeping with the FDA is bad business. Shameless!! I will be saying prayers for all truly organic companies so they can survive without being ruined by the ugly, evil Monsanto, Cargil, etc.
Anonymous replied on Permalink
Mr. Hirshberg has gone on a
Mr. Hirshberg has gone on a campaign to promote organic agriculture and farming. I think this is his way of telling monsanto to take a hike. He is right. Only by supporting organic can we fight this.
Linn replied on Permalink
GMOs
This is yet again another example of how the all mighty dollar has more value than life. When will it end? Maybe when we are all dead from toxins. I wonder if the decision making executives are feeding their family natural or organic?
mitzfitz replied on Permalink
Monsanto is the most
Monsanto is the most evil company ever. Dont believe me? Watch the doc. 'Food Inc.' mentioned earlier, or 'Google' Monsanto in combination with any of these key words:
- Bovine-growth hormone
- Agent orange
- Indian farmers suicide
- seed bank monopoly
- Mexican blue corn
- bribing the Canadian government
- revolving door with EPA/FDA
there is gigabites of information about Monsanto and it's detrimental impact on health, society and biology..
Please Whole foods.. I could care less if you stock GMOs (speaking as an MSc in Biology, i will admit they have drawbacks and benefits and it is unclear which out-ways the other at this point), just dont buy them from Monsanto. Anyone but Monsanto.
Anonymous replied on Permalink
The USDA exists for a reason
The USDA exists for a reason and will explain labeling to anyone who takes the time to read their label specifics. Each label means specific things and is regulated by the usda including the use of the word "natural" it is not a conspiracy it is following usda guidelines. instead of reading this hub bub go to usda.gov and get educated! The time is now to stop making excuses for the ignorant at no point in time does the word organic = healthy
savannah43 replied on Permalink
USDA?
Organic may not mean healthy, but it also doesn't mean poisonous. If I were you, I wouldn't talk about anyone else being ignorant. No one accused the USDA of misusing the word "natural." It's the corporations that take advantage of it. So what you are saying is that if people are fooled by or just don't understand the difference between natural food and organic food, that's their problem? You're a Republican and a Tea Bagger, aren't you?
Anonymous replied on Permalink
Monsanto and GMO
I took the time to read each and everyone of your comments and sadly enough I heard (read) was fustration aggrevated and anger of what these large corportation can and will get away with.
Being we can't fight city hall, lets look upon ourself as to what steps can we do, not worry about every food intake that will kill us.
Being in the Health care profession and knowing so many people suffering from acid reflux which was once called interdigestion, crohns decease and most of all allergies.
All this is related to the GMO. If they take the DNA from a peanut then a tomatoe you will now be allergic to the tomatoe as well.
What I am getting at is Heal yourself from the inside out. I came across a probiotic that has a trishere application that when it reaches the stomach the cloric acid dosn't reconize it therefore it rejects it and passes it threw the intestines which has ackaline then the probiotic will be release into our digestive system. billions of good bacteria 80% will be release into our system. Therefore less then a couple of days you will feel the difference. Now mind you there are many probiotics out their that works but it takes months before you get the effects. Some have to be refrig.
If you want more infomation reply to this and I will get back to you.
I would be glad to tell you more.
I seen for myself people gettig off there meds HB,cholestrol pills, allergies and the list goes on.
Lets take action for ourselves and let the pharmaceutical co as well, loose the battle of not shoving down our throats another pill cause of all the issues the GMO foods are doing to us.I pray that you all take this to heart. Have a healthy day
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