Whole Foods Market Caves to Monsanto

by PRW Staff — January 28, 2011 - 4:09pm
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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

Is this even true?

Submitted by DGLold (not verified) on August 6, 2011 - 5:41pm.

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.

yup and now that there is a

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on December 30, 2011 - 8:04pm.

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.

Monsanto

Submitted by Keep Talking (not verified) on September 6, 2011 - 12:16pm.

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

Put the blame where it belongs - not on Whole Foods

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on July 25, 2011 - 6:08pm.

We may not like the described shady overpricing practices for the marketing of "natural" foods, but then all you have to do is only buy "certified organic" and according to the article you will be alright.

It isn't just up to Whole Foods to fight Monsanto on their own, and I'm alarmed at the number of people here who have said they would stop shopping at Whole Foods to punish them for "caving" to Monsanto. How many people who said they would boycott Whole Foods have written angry letters to their legislators telling them that Monsanto Must Die?

Focus the blame where it belongs: on MONSANTO and their heedless march to control the world's food supply. Here is a corporation worth destroying completely. If you want to boycott anything, START WITH ALL MONSANTO PRODUCTS - so, no more U.S. Corn because it can no longer be trusted. no more corn chips for TV viewers, sorry.

Let's give a little more support to the good guys

Submitted by Crimson (not verified) on September 20, 2011 - 10:29pm.

I completely agree with you on this. Monsanto is a monster trying to rule the entire food industry. Whole Foods, and other stores can only do so much to keep their food safe. It's like going up against the government, (on anything) it's only a matter of time before they win and you lose big time. This is America for us with a totally failed FDA, and citizens dying by the masses of cancer. I know i'm not the only one making the connection here right? What I have always wondered though is if Monsanto employees eat corn products, and EVERYTHING else that they contaminate to death? I mean it just doesn't seem like they would actually feed this poison to their kids by choice. It seems to me that they've even left themselves and their kids with no other options, imagine...

FDA

Submitted by Terry (not verified) on November 13, 2011 - 2:53pm.

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.

reply to boycott

Submitted by alleycat (not verified) on September 2, 2011 - 1:31pm.

you bet!
nothing with corn or soy( because it's ALL monsanto and friends - general mills for example)
No meats from warehoused animals. I get to know the people who grow my foods and meats. It's expensive, but getting sick is even more so.
I'm in my 60s and the ONLY person I know that is healthy (no matter what age) - no "personal doctor" no over counter meds - nothing. I find that pitiful, and meeting with friends is very boring because all they talk about is what the doctor said and their limitations...frankly, i'm sick of that

I thought Monopolies were illegal

Submitted by Sunrise Chic (not verified) on July 23, 2011 - 1:22pm.

How is it that this company has so much power to do this to local companies and farms, is sickening. I guess monopolies are no longer illegal or should I say it's illegal to those who can't afford to pay the right officials. I will boycott Whole Foods myself!

genocide - what is genocide?

Submitted by alleycat (not verified) on September 2, 2011 - 1:18pm.

I am thinking ...as consumers we do have collective power, simply (.......) by not purchasing, but in this case - eating is necessary, and so the next thought approaches with force...what do you call it, when humans (animals as well) are forced to consume a poison laced food, or a poison laced air. Would that not be called a genocide? Yes, it may take decades for us to die, yet there is no time limit on the act of genocide...I don't think. One entire species does not have to die instantly to be called genocide, right?
I started to look into the factor of how many chemicals in our food supply have NOT been tested, are un-tested? There are tens of thousands of them.
We are being killed - period. I looked it up - it's called genocide.

Monopolies and Monsanto

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on July 25, 2011 - 6:01pm.

Who can you go to if your boycott Whole Foods? The thing to do, according to the article, is only buy "certified organic" food at Whole Foods or elsewhere.

Monopolies have been recognized as a threat to society for nearly two centuries, but because the people running our country are sold out to the corporations, we will never get reform. If you want to take action in this matter - don't blame Whole Foods; blame MONSANTO and ask for that company to be dismantled. Remember that Whole Foods FOUGHT Monsanto. So should everyone else.

See Michael Parenti's "The Face of Imperialism" to get a good idea why our lives suck so much in this day and age.