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

misleading article

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on January 29, 2011 - 4:53pm.

This article is misleading and divisive to the struggle in the organic community.
We all need to unite to fight the spread of GMO crops, which threaten traditional non-GMO crops as well as organic crops. This article is based upon one blog written by Ronnie Cummins, of the Organic Consumers Association, and the businesses mentioned have told a completely different story.
I see no reason to punish 1200 family farmers who contribute to both Organic Valley Coop and Stoneyfield Farms, and many organic merchants who sell their products at Whole Foods, yet this type of article is creating an economic back-lash against these businesses which will surely hurt the organic community as a whole. And count that as a win for Monsanto. No one talked to these merchants for this article, nor to the USDA, or any other players here, to find out what really happened, and to give them a chance to explain their side of the story, which is that the government took the "ban" GMO alfalfa option off the table in DECEMBER, and gave two options. A few organic businesses who had been INVITED to participate by the USDA urged the "coexistence" option which consisted of rules for the GMO seed and yes, compensation for organic farmers whose crops might be cross bred with the GMO alfalfa through natural means. That was an attempt to get some measure of safeguard, and it failed. Why that is "caving" I have no idea. These businesses fought for YEARS to ban GMO alfalfa, but were unsuccessful. To demonize them instead of the real players: the USDA, the developer of the GMO alfalfa, Monsanto, and the many lobbyists who spent millions to get the ban totally lifted, makes no sense to me.

Not 'misleading'

Submitted by banichi (not verified) on February 20, 2011 - 1:18am.

You seem to think that Whole Foods, which DID cave to the pressure, from their internal profit-makers, should not be focused on. I disagree, their caving was central to allowing the approval of GMOs to be offically given by the USDA. Whole Foods did not, and does not, want to be known far and wide as selling foods tainted with GMOs, which independent tests have shown to be the case. They call them "natural" when in fact they are nothing but the same GMO-tainted foods you could buy - for a whole lot less, at that - in a Safeway store. They are doing two things:
1) covering their butts, so they now won't be so liable to false advertising claims, and
2) can go on selling GMOs in their stores at inflated prices. And you want to excuse them? I don't think so.

Their caving in, along with the others, now will result shortly in there being no non-GMO alfalfa left in the U.S., at least. You apparently don't know or care about a number of issues;
1) in one growing season, a field of GMO alfalfa next to an organic field of alfalfa will 'infect' that organic field so that it can not be considered organic any more, as it will show up as GMO to testing.
2) Estimates are that in one or two years at most, there will be no non-GMO alfalfa left from such 'infection'
3) Monsanto has very cleverly made their GMO seed so that it is only good for one growing season, and
4) Monsanto also has lobbied successfully to have laws passed that state that if a field of non-GMO crop is infected by having been grown next to a field of GMO crop, that seed from the non-GMO crop belongs to Monsanto, because they have patented their product.

Check the laws. Still think Whole Foods should get a pass on this? They had to know this was the case, and chose to cave in so that they could help their short-term bottom line.

It is time to boycott. I don't know of a better way to let Whole Foods and the others know they do NOT get a free pass for what they have done.

the fight should continue

Submitted by Teporah (not verified) on February 15, 2011 - 9:41am.

I dont' find it misleading at all. What needs to happen is to continue to fight for a ban on GMO alfalfa for all of the obvious reasons. Saying that the government took it off of the table is meaningless. Of COURSE they did! Monsanto has the funds to infuence our Congress with heavy lobbying (corruption), and our FDA IS A JOKE! The whole world knows our FDA stands for nothing.

Agreeing to co-existence is suspect and ridiculous. What exactly, will a financial settlement to for us if a farmer's crops are contaminated? Really?

Does Monsanto have any sway in Europe? Australia? Japan? New Zealand? Our money-hungry corporations are what is destroying our environment, yet the rest of the 'first world' already has in place, protections for its citizens. So, the organic corporations are stepping down a notch, instead of ramping up the fight.

There's no way for organic consumers like us to respect Whole Foods. That store is chock full of pesticide-laden foods. They admit it openly. They stock organic products to attract green consumers, and then stock conventional to get regular folks business as well. Getting it from both ends does not desmonstrate a dedication to the environment, but instead , paints a picture of another money-hungry, PR savvy corporation. Now they'll try to negotiate with the wind and ask it not to blow GMO seeds onto organic farmer's land? The ONLY way to protect our organic farms is for GMO crops to be contained with walls. Figure that one out.

Thank you for educating on

Submitted by Springfield, Missouri (not verified) on February 11, 2011 - 6:27pm.

Thank you for educating on all of the family farms that supply companies like Organic Valley. Monsanto is huge, we must band together, people act like this just started, it has been going on for a very long time.
Support small farms, local natural foods markets, buy organic seeds...remember everytime you buy a product that is not "clean" you are voting and giving YOUR power away! The real problem, our government caving to monsanto!

Another view of this, from Cornucopia

Submitted by Lisa Graves on February 11, 2011 - 4:33am.

On the interest of sharing another perspective on this, I am re-posting Cornucopia's response here:

The three companies in question decided to split with most of the organizations in the organic community, like Cornucopia, that recommended not approving genetically engineered alfalfa for release.

They favored a compromise that would have attempted to protect organic farmers through new regulations allowing for “coexistence.” We unfortunately feel, along with our scientific advisers, alfalfa seed producers and farmers, that coexistence is impossible and we would’ve ended up with widespread genetic contamination.

Although we did not agree with their ill-conceived approach I would not say that they “sided with Monsanto.” And in the end the USDA was not willing to make any compromises.

Sadly, who knows how many comments could have been received by the White House, asking the president to ban genetically engineered alfalfa, if these companies, with hundreds of thousands of followers via e-mail and social networking, would’ve worked with the rest of the organic community.

Although USDA Secretary Vilsack said this was not politically possible, he reports to the President. And if Mr. Obama had felt enough heat he might have thought twice about the political implications of approval.

Cornucopia will aggressively pursue possible additional legal action against the USDA to block the release of genetically engineered alfalfa.

In the meantime, the only thing we can all do, as farmers or consumers, is contact the White House and ask Mr. Obama, and the first lady, to think about the benefits their own organic garden has for their children and to overturn this corporate-friendly ruling. [PRW Editor in Chief's note--Unfortunately, the WH garden is not organic, as PRW has previously reported, Toxic Sludge Taints the White House (and, in fact, the WH conceded the garden was not organic and even promoted that fact, here).]

We respect the work of the Organic Consumers Association, and understand why its leadership and members feel so aggrieved. But we do not support boycotting Stonyfield, Whole Foods or Organic Valley. That would seriously injure the many family-scale farmers who supply those brands.

We certainly don’t believe that the CEOs of these organic giants were intentionally doing anything to injure the organic movement. Hopefully this will serve as a lesson to all of us—we are all smarter when working together.

Best regards,

Mark A. Kastel, Codirector

I DEMAND LABELING

Submitted by LizzyD (not verified) on March 14, 2011 - 6:21pm.

The only value in Monsanto's genetically engineered seeds is that they are Roundup "Ready." The whole idea is to patent the seeds for one-use, and every year sell MORE ROUNDUP! Get it? They do not care that more Roundup is BAD FOP PEOPLE! We are mere collateral damage, folks. You ARE on your own. Good old social Darwinism, survival of the fittest.

Given that premise, what I want is labeling of all foods that contain GMO grains or soy, and a sticker on every piece of fruit or veggie or can or freezer bag. We deserve to KNOW! We deserve a CHOICE! They say it will cost too much? Balderdash! They are afraid that if we know it, we won't buy it! So, due to this secret ingredient in your food (Roundup), you (and your babies) very well might die before your time. Think about it!

White House and congressional servers should get so much email on this that it is tantamount to a denial of services attack!

Facts and language RE: GE foods and Whole Foods

Submitted by Colleen Kendrick (not verified) on January 29, 2011 - 12:14pm.

In this age of high speed media, cut and paste reporting is irresponsible. Your readership would be much better served by a bit of fact checking, and providing a broader context for the article.
While spin is always out there, a bit of due diligence would assist you in avoiding the reactionary position of repeating another reporters misguidance.
Here is what Whole Foods has to say on the subject: http://blog.wholefoodsmarket.com/2011/01/no-regulations-ge-alfalfa/
Now, iwth this in mind, please inform your readership how much of this is PR, and what is fact.
Many Thanks,
Colleen Kendrick

RE: Facts and Language

Submitted by Mark Green (not verified) on February 25, 2011 - 10:44am.

Fact and Language: I grow all my own food now to make my point. Since $ talks and bullshit walks.

Time for people to return to self-sufficiency as much as possible and cut the corporations out of their lives.

This way of life applies to energy also. Using a few simple GM alternators (I purchased used at the auto wreckers), I now prduce enough energy to meet my transportation and living requirements, inlcuding growing indoors during the winter months, north of Lake Superior.

I am truly free fro GMO's and oil companies.

this is the kind of info needed!

Submitted by phillosopherp (not verified) on April 8, 2011 - 11:24am.

Mark I know this might sound foreign to you but have you considered starting a good corporation to teach/setup these kinds of setups for others that may want it but not know where to start. or even just a non-profit with a website that shows how you did yours. I believe that the reason that this is not as wide spread is because most think it must be very difficult, or extremely expensive or everyone would be doing it. Most people don't think that the reason no one is doing it is simply because their own thinking is what's holding them back!

So, to counter this "spin,"

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on January 30, 2011 - 7:09pm.

So, to counter this "spin," you post a link to Whole Foods???? Sheesh ... who do you think you're kidding? I'm sure you work for them.