Whole Foods Market Caves to Monsanto

by PRW Staff — January 28, 2011 - 3:09pm
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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

Comments

Well said,- thank you!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on November 10, 2012 - 3:39pm.

Well said,- thank you!

there is no cave in

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on September 26, 2012 - 5:29pm.

Whole Foods has done more to improve the food in our country than our government. NO, I DO NOT work for them but I was involved in campaigns for years that targeted improvements for small to mid scale organic farmers as well as clean meat producers and I can say that this story is about as complete as a slice of swiss cheese. Forget the names of the companies who spent millions to fight a giant, monsanto. Think about the fact they have been fueled by politicians that many of us, have elected into office. Yes obama too! Cry me a tear in your prius....

Their animal wellfare program is one of the best we knew of and was being developed and driven by Whole Foods, not by demand from customers or the government. It is the right thing to do. What have any of you done to make changes or have your voice heard about the poisoning of our food system and GMO crop tolerance? Click a like button on facebook or anonymously sign some petition online?! Look at the problems and quit pointing at companies that you all love to hate. Did any of you drive today? Are you watching television? What did you and your kids eat today? Look at your choices. Just choosing organic is no longer enough. Companies like Monsanto can own the meaning the word organic these days...I feel sorry for you if you think otherwise.

The problem with our food system is that nobody wants to get involved on any level that requires commitment or time and effort. I became exhausted as well at my job so I changed professions. That said, I am still driven on a local level to keep improving things but I just realized how many people in the US truly do not care enough to do anything about the situation and how hard it is to change things on any scale beyond micro. That is why I only direct my efforts into our small local system. I encourage you all to do the same as this is really your only hope of taking the fish genes out of your tomatoes.

WFM is a very successful marketing effort

Submitted by John W Beck (not verified) on October 13, 2012 - 12:50pm.

WFM employs a lot of good people. It is still a company who cares more for making gobs of money over much else. I worked in a few of their stores here in Massachusetts that were the local 'wholefoods' chain called Bread & Circus WFM bought out. Myself, I have had it with that company. They pay a lot of lip service to the words "organic" and "natural", but when push comes to shove the word they care most about it "profit".

Their "human slaughter" program is bogus. They sing lullabies to the animals before they bash their heads in instead of just smacking them dead? How kind. WFM started this "Meatopia" event where eating meat was celebrated, strongly encouraged and a few well paid chefs were brought in to cook the best darn bbq steak you ever had. Despite one of WFMs main managers being vegan himself, that company makes millions selling meat. They want to move as much of it as they can. If they dress it up as "humanely slaughtered" meat and charge a few more bucks a pound, wahoo!

WFM cares a lot less about the food and much more for how they can market it and charge you a premium for apples that were kissed by golden butterflies. That smaller chain Bread & Circus they bought out? It had stronger standards than WFM, and as soon as WFM bought them, those standards vanished. Stronger standards not as friendly to higher sales as slick advertising campaigns and heavy greenwashing.

there is no cave in

Submitted by sdk (not verified) on October 1, 2012 - 12:02pm.

As sad as it sounds he is telling the truth, no one wants to get involved or do their part to make a difference. By the same token, I have to remind myself daily in my struggle to inform people that Americans have been programmed non stop via, media, music, movies, etc. to be numb to the truth. The sad truth of it all is, people are not going to wake up until something terrible happens to disturb their current way of living. In the meantime anonymous...just know that you are not alone, and we have to keep the faith on the fact that the good will prevail over evil in the end.

the above article is jan 2011

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on August 22, 2012 - 10:29am.

what's the update?

The update is that...

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on September 24, 2012 - 11:46pm.

...someone deleted the name of the original author.

Whole Foods Market

Submitted by LadyJanuary (not verified) on August 5, 2012 - 1:50pm.

It really is a shame WFM, Organic Valley and Stoneyfield Farm did a trade-off with Monsanto after a long history/investment of twelve years. It seems Monsanto beat them down. I'm sure there is more to the story for the trade-off.
I would like to know what proof WFM, OV and SF have regarding "compenstion"....
Could it have been possible for WFM, OV and SF to help the organic farmers for "any losses related to the contamination of their crops" by means of donating a percentage of their profits, and if so, they could of still supported their cause against Monsanto and endorsed the organic industry mission.
A few Whole Foods Market stores have opened in Toronto...I was very excited but now after having read this article I am very disappointed and will probably go back to buying my organic foods from a local small market. I am in favor of supporting smaller businesses as much as I can.
All we can do is collectively not purchase or support companies related to Monsanto. Beware of GMO brands/products and boycott them everyday by simply not buying them! Please support your local organic farms and neighborhood organic stores.

Monsanto

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on September 11, 2012 - 6:59am.

I have just become aware of this issue,living in a 3rd world country. I agree with you totally....there must be more to the story as there certainly was a more humane way of helping the farmers. Fortunately, I have the opportunity to purchase from the small farmers in my country but the large supermarkets who import from the US are doing so without a clear understanding of what they are actually buying. In my country, there is a literal epidemic of cancers in both young and old. Hopefully, one day, someone will be powerful enough to prove and win a collosal suit against the company that produces and markets Genetically altered food which is linked to cancer. In the meantime, God does not sleep and He is still in the business of miracles. I continue to ask Him to deal with "the untouchables" whose selfish and greedy actions bring sorrow and grief to decent hardworking people.

Your prayer answered, Monsanto tumors, organ damage, prem. death

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on September 19, 2012 - 3:06pm.

Published today, reported by Reuters, and even Fox News, that rats fed Monsanto corn got tumors, major organ failure, premature deaths in French big study.

In spite of the "skepticism" spin on Fox's title (we have to be very afraid of Monsanto, right?), Fox reports the findings, as well as plenty of nebulous objections by Monsanto-troops.

Strangely, CNN has kept silent on this major damaging-to-Monsanto story, shame on you CNN.

The study tracked the rats through all of their 2-year lifespan, instead of the convenient 3-months America and Monsanto uses.

It could not have come at a better time, now that Monsanto et al have spent millions of $$$ in California to not have to label GMO foods as such.

America sadly has become the undignified country, where "Might is Right", and where Might=Money.
No pride, no truth, no honesty, no morals, no ethics, just bribes and strong-arm tactics run this country, from government to business. The whole world can see it too.

Here is the link to the article:
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/09/19/study-on-monsanto-gm-corn-concerns-draws-skepticism/

Right. Better to be a Muslim

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on September 22, 2012 - 9:55pm.

Right. Better to be a Muslim country with a perfect human rights record. Where's my sword.