Whole Foods Market Caves to Monsanto

by PRW Staff — January 28, 2011 - 3:09pm
Share/Save Share this

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

Monsanto and the USDA revolving door.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on September 7, 2011 - 11:16pm.

I read ACRES USA an organic farming magazine.Every month they have the (dirt on Monsanto and the ins and outs of their lawers and executives that go through USDA's revolving door. The Secretary of Farming is a (rotater) from Monsanto. Monsanto is totally involved in advising on laws that support Monsanto to their benefit. Monsanto does not care about long term results. The game is all about short term profits. Ugly results of their gmo's are beginning to show up. In Iowa 100,000 acres of GM corn was lost due to a glyphosate resistant corn root worm.According to Greenpeace,who released a new report titled "Australia's wheat scandal:The biotech takeover of our daily bread. CSIRO approved the worlds first human feeding trials of GM wheat to Australians. International GM labeling in over 100 countries may happen; Check out farmfutures.com

Whole Foods

Submitted by Veronica Washington (not verified) on July 22, 2011 - 11:42pm.

I strongly oppose the strangle hold Monsanto has on Soy bean production. I know they are trying to acquire exclusive rights to other crops as well. If you cave into them I will stop shopping in your stores.

SAY "NO" to GMO!!!

Submitted by Gray Matter (not verified) on July 7, 2011 - 11:30am.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE!! Write to Organic/Whole Food suppliers and tell them that IF THEY DO NOT OPPOSE MONSANTO, YOU WILL NO LONGER BUY THEIR PRODUCTS!! GMOs DO in fact make people sick! I personally have to buy organic because of my sensitivity to additives etc. I always buy organic foods but I had tried a product that I knew is definitely a GM Food because I was curious, and I was violently ill for days. Meats from animals that are injected with artificial growth hormones are the same way with me. The average person cannot tell the difference because they are slowly conditioned over long periods of time to get used to the garbage that they are putting in our foods... However, if you switch to all natural, organic, free range meat for a while, then try to eat some of the non-natural meats, you will DEFINITELY taste the difference!! AND I guarantee you, you too will become violently ill from the GMO foods! Switch to Organic and All Natural foods for 6 months then try to eat some of the non-organic and you will definitely see what I mean. Once you do, convince everyone you know to try the same thing. If you love your family, care about your own well-being too, you would try this experiment and get others to as well! After all, what harm would it do you to at least TRY!!

Monsanto vs good food

Submitted by Dorothy K Dean (not verified) on July 16, 2011 - 12:02pm.

Don't cave to Monsanto. I will NOT spend my money on anything genetically engineered. Might have to stop shopping at Whole Foods as I find out more.

Implications on organic meat industry?

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on July 6, 2011 - 11:43am.

I worry about how this will affect the organic meat industry. If a rancher/farmer is found to have their forage contaminated with these GMO crops, I would assume this would affect their ability to keep organic status? I guess GE and Monsanto decided they had crop farmers firmly under their thumb and decided to see what else they could go after. My own small farm has been a labor of love. I spend a lot of time and money to sow in high quality organic forage for my horses and other animals. It is neither cheap nor easy, but I wanted to do what was best for the land and the animals. I'm tired of the heavy-handed bully tactics of these mega corporations who claim to want change for the better. All they care about is restricting choice for their own profit.

Becoming vegan and growing your own

Submitted by vegan (not verified) on July 15, 2011 - 11:14pm.

The best way to fight back is to go vegan (you won't have to worry about whether meat is organic) and growing your own garden with organic seeds (you won't have to worry about GMO in your food). I don't buy from Whole Foods anyway, only from farmers Markets who don't spray and local health food stores. So I stay healthy and strong in my older years.

does Monsanto own Whole Foods Market?

Submitted by Andrew 11 (not verified) on July 6, 2011 - 9:42pm.

I have been told this by a couple people lately. I have a hard time believing it. Anyone know?

does Monsanto own Whole Foods Market?

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on July 8, 2011 - 6:41pm.

Whole Foods is a publicly traded comapny. Monsanto does not own them or a majority share.

MONSANTO

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on July 8, 2011 - 12:35pm.

I too have been told that Monsanto owns Whole Foods. Get Monsanto out of the White House. They've been there since the days of Nixon and there is also talking of Vilsak (a Monsanto friend) is going to run for Pres. Not this upcoming term but after. It's time for Congress to go. After all, they are the ones who are putting $ in their pockets while the big Corps pull their puppet strings. The Federal Gov is KILLING us.

Have some lovely beansprouts

Submitted by joealtmann (not verified) on July 3, 2011 - 4:14pm.

Have some lovely beansprouts imported from Germany.