By Ronnie Cummins
Organic Consumers Association
“The policy set for GE alfalfa will most likely guide policies for other GE crops as well. True coexistence is a must.” – Whole Foods Market, Jan. 21, 2011
In the wake of a 12-year battle to keep Monsanto’s Genetically Engineered (GE) crops from contaminating the nation’s 25,000 organic farms and ranches, America’s organic consumers and producers are facing betrayal. A self-appointed cabal of the Organic Elite, spearheaded by Whole Foods Market, Organic Valley, and Stonyfield Farm, has decided it’s time to surrender to Monsanto. Top executives from these companies have publicly admitted that they no longer oppose the mass commercialization of GE crops, such as Monsanto’s controversial Roundup Ready alfalfa, and are prepared to sit down and cut a deal for “coexistence” with Monsanto and USDA biotech cheerleader Tom Vilsack.
In a cleverly worded, but profoundly misleading email sent to its customers last week, Whole Foods Market, while proclaiming their support for organics and “seed purity,” gave the green light to USDA bureaucrats to approve the “conditional deregulation” of Monsanto’s genetically engineered, herbicide-resistant alfalfa. Beyond the regulatory euphemism of “conditional deregulation,” this means that WFM and their colleagues are willing to go along with the massive planting of a chemical and energy-intensive GE perennial crop, alfalfa; guaranteed to spread its mutant genes and seeds across the nation; guaranteed to contaminate the alfalfa fed to organic animals; guaranteed to lead to massive poisoning of farm workers and destruction of the essential soil food web by the toxic herbicide, Roundup; and guaranteed to produce Roundup-resistant superweeds that will require even more deadly herbicides such as 2,4 D to be sprayed on millions of acres of alfalfa across the U.S.
In exchange for allowing Monsanto’s premeditated pollution of the alfalfa gene pool, WFM wants “compensation.” In exchange for a new assault on farmworkers and rural communities (a recent large-scale Swedish study found that spraying Roundup doubles farm workers’ and rural residents’ risk of getting cancer), WFM expects the pro-biotech USDA to begin to regulate rather than cheerlead for Monsanto. In payment for a new broad spectrum attack on the soil’s crucial ability to provide nutrition for food crops and to sequester dangerous greenhouse gases (recent studies show that Roundup devastates essential soil microorganisms that provide plant nutrition and sequester climate-destabilizing greenhouse gases), WFM wants the Biotech Bully of St. Louis to agree to pay “compensation” (i.e. hush money) to farmers “for any losses related to the contamination of his crop.”
In its email of Jan. 21, 2011 WFM calls for “public oversight by the USDA rather than reliance on the biotechnology industry,” even though WFM knows full well that federal regulations on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) do not require pre-market safety testing, nor labeling; and that even federal judges have repeatedly ruled that so-called government “oversight” of Frankencrops such as Monsanto’s sugar beets and alfalfa is basically a farce. At the end of its email, WFM admits that its surrender to Monsanto is permanent: “The policy set for GE alfalfa will most likely guide policies for other GE crops as well True coexistence is a must.”
Why Is Organic Inc. Surrendering?
According to informed sources, the CEOs of WFM and Stonyfield are personal friends of former Iowa governor, now USDA Secretary, Tom Vilsack, and in fact made financial contributions to Vilsack’s previous electoral campaigns. Vilsack was hailed as “Governor of the Year” in 2001 by the Biotechnology Industry Organization, and traveled in a Monsanto corporate jet on the campaign trail. Perhaps even more fundamental to Organic Inc.’s abject surrender is the fact that the organic elite has become more and more isolated from the concerns and passions of organic consumers and locavores.
The Organic Inc. CEOs are tired of activist pressure, boycotts, and petitions. Several of them have told me this to my face. They apparently believe that the battle against GMOs has been lost, and that it’s time to reach for the consolation prize. The consolation prize they seek is a so-called “coexistence” between the biotech Behemoth and the organic community that will lull the public to sleep and greenwash the unpleasant fact that Monsanto’s unlabeled and unregulated genetically engineered crops are now spreading their toxic genes on 1/3 of U.S. (and 1/10 of global) crop land.
WFM and most of the largest organic companies have deliberately separated themselves from anti-GMO efforts and cut off all funding to campaigns working to label or ban GMOs. The so-called Non-GMO Project, funded by Whole Foods and giant wholesaler United Natural Foods (UNFI) is basically a greenwashing effort (although the 100% organic companies involved in this project seem to be operating in good faith) to show that certified organic foods are basically free from GMOs (we already know this since GMOs are banned in organic production), while failing to focus on so-called “natural” foods, which constitute most of WFM and UNFI’s sales and are routinely contaminated with GMOs.
From their “business as usual” perspective, successful lawsuits against GMOs filed by public interest groups such as the Center for Food Safety; or noisy attacks on Monsanto by groups like the Organic Consumers Association, create bad publicity, rattle their big customers such as Wal-Mart, Target, Kroger, Costco, Supervalu, Publix and Safeway; and remind consumers that organic crops and foods such as corn, soybeans, and canola are slowly but surely becoming contaminated by Monsanto’s GMOs.
Whole Foods’ Dirty Little Secret: Most of the So-Called “Natural” Processed Foods and Animal Products They Sell Are Contaminated with GMOs
The main reason, however, why Whole Foods is pleading for coexistence with Monsanto, Dow, Bayer, Syngenta, BASF and the rest of the biotech bullies, is that they desperately want the controversy surrounding genetically engineered foods and crops to go away. Why? Because they know, just as we do, that 2/3 of WFM’s $9 billion annual sales is derived from so-called “natural” processed foods and animal products that are contaminated with GMOs. We and our allies have tested their so-called “natural” products (no doubt WFM’s lab has too) containing non-organic corn and soy, and guess what: they’re all contaminated with GMOs, in contrast to their certified organic products, which are basically free of GMOs, or else contain barely detectable trace amounts.
Approximately 2/3 of the products sold by Whole Foods Market and their main distributor, United Natural Foods (UNFI) are not certified organic, but rather are conventional (chemical-intensive and GMO-tainted) foods and products disguised as “natural.”
Unprecedented wholesale and retail control of the organic marketplace by UNFI and Whole Foods, employing a business model of selling twice as much so-called “natural” food as certified organic food, coupled with the takeover of many organic companies by multinational food corporations such as Dean Foods, threatens the growth of the organic movement.
Covering Up GMO Contamination: Perpetrating “Natural” Fraud
Many well-meaning consumers are confused about the difference between conventional products marketed as “natural,” and those nutritionally/ environmentally superior and climate-friendly products that are “certified organic.”
Retail stores like WFM and wholesale distributors like UNFI have failed to educate their customers about the qualitative difference between natural and certified organic, conveniently glossing over the fact that nearly all of the processed “natural” foods and products they sell contain GMOs, or else come from a “natural” supply chain where animals are force-fed GMO grains in factory farms or Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs).
A troubling trend in organics today is the calculated shift on the part of certain large formerly organic brands from certified organic ingredients and products to so-called “natural” ingredients. With the exception of the “grass-fed and grass-finished” meat sector, most “natural” meat, dairy, and eggs are coming from animals reared on GMO grains and drugs, and confined, entirely, or for a good portion of their lives, in CAFOs.
Whole Foods and UNFI are maximizing their profits by selling quasi-natural products at premium organic prices. Organic consumers are increasingly left without certified organic choices while genuine organic farmers and ranchers continue to lose market share to “natural” imposters. It’s no wonder that less than 1% of American farmland is certified organic, while well-intentioned but misled consumers have boosted organic and “natural” purchases to $80 billion annually-approximately 12% of all grocery store sales.
The Solution: Truth-in-Labeling Will Enable Consumers to Drive So-Called “Natural” GMO and CAFO-Tainted Foods Off the Market
There can be no such thing as “coexistence” with a reckless industry that undermines public health, destroys biodiversity, damages the environment, tortures and poisons animals, destabilizes the climate, and economically devastates the world’s 1.5 billion seed-saving small farmers.
There is no such thing as coexistence between GMOs and organics in the European Union. Why? Because in the EU there are almost no GMO crops under cultivation, nor GM consumer food products on supermarket shelves. And why is this? Because under EU law, all foods containing GMOs or GMO ingredients must be labeled. Consumers have the freedom to choose or not to choose GMOs; while farmers, food processors, and retailers have (at least legally) the right to lace foods with GMOs, as long as they are safety-tested and labeled.
Of course the EU food industry understands that consumers, for the most part, do not want to purchase or consume GE foods. European farmers and food companies, even junk food purveyors like McDonald’s and Wal-Mart, understand quite well the concept expressed by a Monsanto executive when GMOs first came on the market: “If you put a label on genetically engineered food you might as well put a skull and crossbones on it.”
The biotech industry and Organic Inc. are supremely conscious of the fact that North American consumers, like their European counterparts, are wary and suspicious of GMO foods. Even without a PhD, consumers understand you don’t want your food safety or environmental sustainability decisions to be made by out-of-control chemical companies like Monsanto, Dow, or Dupont – the same people who brought you toxic pesticides, Agent Orange, PCBs, and now global warming.
Industry leaders are acutely aware of the fact that every single industry or government poll over the last 16 years has shown that 85-95% of American consumers want mandatory labels on GMO foods. Why? So that we can avoid buying them. GMO foods have absolutely no benefits for consumers or the environment, only hazards. This is why Monsanto and their friends in the Bush, Clinton, and Obama administrations have prevented consumer GMO truth-in-labeling laws from getting a public discussion in Congress.
Although Congressman Dennis Kucinich (Democrat, Ohio) recently introduced a bill in Congress calling for mandatory labeling and safety testing for GMOs, don’t hold your breath for Congress to take a stand for truth-in-labeling and consumers’ right to know what’s in their food. Especially since the 2010 Supreme Court decision in the so-called Citizens United case gave big corporations and billionaires the right to spend unlimited amounts of money (and remain anonymous, as they do so) to buy media coverage and elections, our chances of passing federal GMO labeling laws against the wishes of Monsanto and Food Inc. are all but non-existent.
Perfectly dramatizing the “Revolving Door” between Monsanto and the Federal Government, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, formerly chief counsel for Monsanto, delivered one of the decisive votes in the Citizens United case, in effect giving Monsanto and other biotech bullies the right to buy the votes it needs in the U.S. Congress.
With big money controlling Congress and the media, we have little choice but to shift our focus and go local. We’ve got to concentrate our forces where our leverage and power lie, in the marketplace, at the retail level; pressuring retail food stores to voluntarily label their products; while on the legislative front we must organize a broad coalition to pass mandatory GMO (and CAFO) labeling laws, at the city, county, and state levels.
The Organic Consumers Association, joined by our consumer, farmer, environmental, and labor allies, has just launched a nationwide Truth-in-Labeling campaign to stop Monsanto and the Biotech Bullies from force-feeding unlabeled GMOs to animals and humans.
Utilizing scientific data, legal precedent, and consumer power the OCA and our local coalitions will educate and mobilize at the grassroots level to pressure giant supermarket chains (Wal-Mart, Kroger, Costco, Safeway, Supervalu, and Publix) and natural food retailers such as Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s to voluntarily implement “truth-in-labeling” practices for GMOs and CAFO products; while simultaneously organizing a critical mass to pass mandatory local and state truth-in-labeling ordinances – similar to labeling laws already in effect for country of origin, irradiated food, allergens, and carcinogens.
If local and state government bodies refuse to take action, wherever possible we must attempt to gather sufficient petition signatures and place these truth-in-labeling initiatives directly on the ballot in 2011 or 2012. If you’re interested in helping organize or coordinate a Millions Against Monsanto and Factory Farms Truth-in-Labeling campaign in your local community, sign up here: http://organicconsumers.org/oca-volunteer/
To pressure Whole Foods Market and the nation’s largest supermarket chains to voluntarily adopt truth-in-labeling practices sign here, and circulate this petition widely: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_22309.cfm
And please stay tuned to Organic Bytes for the latest developments in our campaigns.
Power to the People! Not the Corporations!
####
Jan. 28 Response by Whole Foods Market:
Many people have asked us why we endorsed the coexistence option rather than an outright ban on GE alfalfa. That was never an option in Washington! The USDA presented the industry with only two options that they were considering– deregulation and deregulation with restrictions. Given the pervasive planting of GE crops in the U.S. – 93% of soy, 86% of corn, 93% of cotton and 93% of canola seed planted were genetically engineered in the U.S. in 2010 – the option of an outright ban was not on the table. Whole Foods Market — along with the National Cooperative Grocers Association, the National Organic Coalition, the Organic Trade Association, and other companies and groups — endorsed the path of deregulation with restrictions, or coexistence, not because it was a perfect path, but because it was a path to create meaningful change right now in the regulating of genetically engineered foods and the protection of non-GE foods. (Read the full response.)
Food Freedom 
Betrayed by corporate bastards, again!
As I’ve explained before, nothing is really ‘organic’ anymore. To pay extra for the products of these large companies like Whole Foods, Organic Valley and Stonyfield, thinking you’re getting something ‘premium’ or ‘safer’ or ‘better’, is just plain stupid and making them LOTS of money. Which is and was, their only reason to exist. This is what corporatism DOES.
The best (and only) choice you have left is to grow your own from heirloom o.p. seeds, feed your own that you raise from birth, and/or buy from a local farmer that you know or some kind of local market. Everything else you buy, figure that it is mildly to extremely toxic and hope you get lucky….
hey Ned ~ I’m just about to plant my first potato patch… organic, heirloom, for Florida
That is so great Rady.
We grow a lot of potatoes here, love ’em.
But you live in a different world there in Florida, up here (west central Mn.) it was -27 just a few days ago. Up in the plus twenties, today…almost melting.
….we’ll plant our potatoes in May. 🙂
Ned
While I agree that the stuff you’re getting from whole foods is inferior to what you could grow yourself – and encourage everyone to plant their own potato patch! – the simple truth is even a corporate “organic” farm is MUCH better for everyone than a normal corporate agribusiness hell-hole.
And the only way we can get them to do that is to vote with our pocketbooks: buy from them.
AND call them and write them. Keep the pressure up. This is going to be a long, long, war.
I agree totally
This all sounds great. I would suggest also a huge huge huge campaign to educate people about the difference between the lie of ” natural” and organic. You yourself talk about this at length in this excellent essay, but then don’t mention doing anything about it in the excellent campaign you have spoken about here. Ardent organic only food consumer, who reads every single label every single time. I think some kind of giving out information about “natural” right outside WFM would be a very good way to go also, to add to what you are already planning.
Well I’m going to do my share and volunteer to help the organic consumer organization for truth in labeling! This just pisses me off, well, so does the government, but that goes without saying lately!
Me as well, msdarlene! I am so irritated right now about this whole frigging mess!
Let the corporations go to hell and their political whores can join them. The solution is for the people to become self sufficient and grow their own food or form consumer co-ops that patronize local producers of organic crops and grass fed beef. This is why private property rights are so critical because personal liberty is inexorably related to one’s self sufficiency and being able to produce your own food. As New World Order cheerleader Henry Kissinger has said that those who control the food supply control the people. The next step is to educate your children yourselves and not send them to the government “fool” system, AKA indoctrination centers so as to break the cycle of raising stooges for the corrupt system.
right on, Eric
Some of us live in big cities, though (where we’re trying to leave a smaller footprint by not driving a car and living in apt. buildings). Easier said than done to grow your own food on top of that.
Not as hard as you might think – 3 acres in Milwaukie produces 1 Million pounds of food a year. Just ask Will Allen of Growing Power or search 1 million pounds on Youtube.
The idea of self sufficient and grow your own is nice but impossible. There isn’t enough land period. If GE crops did not exist, many people would not exist either. Genetic engineering has allowed sufficient crop yields to feed humanity. The crop yields of 30-50 years ago simply would not be enough to feed today’s population. The U.S. would no longer be sending food aid to many of the places that need it. So starving out the population doesn’t seem ethical either.
I do agree with the general sentiment of this forum though. People have a right to know what their food product is in it’s entirety. There DOES need to be regulation, There DOES need to be truthful labeling on consumer products. People should be allowed to make an informed choice as to what they ingest. From what I’ve read and experienced, the problem really isn’t the GE crops, it is the herbicides that they are engineered to resist. The chemicals being applied is where there needs to be more concentrated engineering. Genetic changes do occur naturally, however it is difficult to predict what the changes will be. For instance 500 years ago corn did not exist. Corn is a plant that evolved from another. Stopping or boycotting crop science would be fatal.
The average american consumes food from all over. That includes other nations. Something I do know about americans in general is that very few of us are willing to do without. Regulating and banning foods is a touchy subject and many legal issues are raised. Again comes the debate of who should be allowed to control what (and how little) we are allowed to consume. That is why I believe the proper course is to truthfully label product and properly regulate herbicides. Raise your voice to the proper government officials and corporations please.
Incorrect – the entire protein needs for the human population of the planet can be met by growing spirulina on a land area the size of the state of Kansas. Vertical growing of potatoes can yield 11 pounds of potatoes per square foot of growing area.
Excellent response. I won’t try to dispute these numbers as have not had education in those particular facts. I do know that 11 pounds of potatoes might last one person two weeks. I’m not sure if I’ve ever had spirulina. There are other nutrients needed other than protein as well. Then there is also an issue of food allergies. What if this food or the handful of foods that grow in such abundance are poison to a percentage of humans. I also wonder if such high yield vegetation has not been engineered in some way.
I would like to point out that vertical growing takes pretty precise growing conditions not to mention nutrients and proper light to thrive. Also require some sort of shelter. I’m also a bit leery of the success rate. Concentrated and confined growing also puts our food supply at a much higher risk. An act of nature or error in growing would be devastating.
I’m not devil’s advocate here. I believe in exploring alternatives and not just accepting status quo.
I was trying to make the point (perhaps not well) that everything isn’t always simple black and white. I just would hate to see people become disheartened with crop science due to the $$$ inspired companies trying to assume total control of it.
It is possible that the solution is not to fight the progression of GE products but to advance it to safer results.
Whatever course food production takes, there will always be the common issue of people opposed to change.
There is a difference between artificial selection (harvesting seeds from the most productive/disease resistant/best tasting crop) and genetic modification (adding genes from other organisms ex: fish gene -> tomato). Artificial selection is the foundation of agriculture whereas genetic modification is relatively new. There are no requirements to determine the health effects of GM crops. It is well understood that the herbicides applied to crops are usually persistent chemicals and kill living things, not just weeds/pests. You can’t just wash that shit off and it will accumulate in the body of whatever consumes it.
It is not true that we need GM crops or even conventional agriculture operations to feed the world. Small scale farms can produce up to 2000% more crops/acre with greater diversity and without the use of herbicides/pesticides (biocides). Using the technology available to us, good food can be produced just about anywhere and in enough abundance to feed the world.
The life lessons and knowledge obtained by growing your own food are extremely valuable. It is sad that they are absent from many people’s lives.
Food scarcity is a fallacy perpetuated by biotech. The issue is *access*, not scarcity. And in a sick ironic twist, biotech actually makes it harder for local access to food through seed patenting, government lobbying and monopolistic practices that destroy family farmers and agrarian communities. And GE seeds wind up polluting the environment and poisoning livestock and farm workers, leading to a scarcity problem. The “solution to scarcity” message comes from the weasels who work in biotech marketing departments (as well as pro-biotech posers on message boards, I might add). But like any marketing message, it is entirely divorced from reality.
Breeding for selected traits is artificial selection. Inserting designer genes from other sources into an organism’s DNA is genetic modification. Big difference.
No one has the right to surrender anything to Monsanto or anybody else for that matter. Martin.
This is another proof of what “they” want to do. In ten countries of European Union the GM grow is banned. In all Europe, Products for human that exceed 0´9% GMO content, must be labeled. The UE rules of organic farming ban GMO. But the corporations would like to do in Europe the same that are doing in USA.
Either way; the global plan is so evident: They want to reduce world population.. Control of seeds, food speculation, control of the market…
The alternatives are information and conciousness, and “Decentralize, Grow Your Own, Buy Local.”
We are organizing a picket of the Whole Foods near you this Saturday (tomorrow) at 11am. In Los Angeles, we are hitting the Whole Foods in Venice at (Lincoln & Rose). If we don’t show them RIGHT NOW that it will cost them business in a BIG way, it’ll be too late. Please spread the word.
more protests at all whole foods please? there are 4 in my small county of marin, north of sf.
I would support such a protest! i also live in marin and have stopped going to whore foods in favor of United markets, Good Earth, and Rainbow Co-op Grocery in SF whenever i am in the city.
Why don’t you protest next to USDA and Monsanto instead, people? They are the ones who are spitting in your faces. Whole Foods had the guts to stand for your rights against company with billions. Monsanto with their billions and bought government personas, has crashed them this time. They have involved them in the situation, which was Loose-Loose- for WFM. Monsanto could do it, because they are very skillful in court games and because they bought people, who made final decisions. If WFM would stand for their principals, their (and your) interests would be ignored, they would be cut from the negotiations and you would be mad at them “because they did not achieve anything”. They tried to settle for a compromise, to win time and get prepared for the next battle, now you are not happy either and they are getting beaten up by you, for whom they went to this hell, spending their time and money for it trying to PROTECT YOUR INTERESTS. Don’t you see that you are playing Monsanto’s game just like they wanted? It is classic “Divide and conquer”. Amazing how it works every time. Who you are supporting by doing these stupid protests in front of WFM? It only plays well for Monsanto. That is exactly what they want. Your supporters to be eaten by you. This way they can not stand up and be a stick in the wheel for Monsanto again. If you do not like what WFM is doing, then why don’t YOU go and do it, instead of sitting in front of you TVs and complaining. Let me remind you, that WFM is not your political representative and they do not have to go and lobby for you. They are retail store, who put their business under attack trying to do what is right FOR YOU. Are you blind? Retail store’s business is to choose products that customers want and to give it to them, not to fight on political arena. They could be busy with their business, managing and selecting their inventory, sitting quietly in the shade, just like all the other companies do. It would be much more profitable for them. They had the guts to take it out and try to challenge giant like Monsanto. Now they look like fools, because their supporters are idiots, blindsided by Monsanto’s genius plan. I can imagine how Monsanto and company are laughing now watching you eating up what is left of your supporters. Why don’t you go out and SUPPORT WFM and other organic companies, who participated in this attempt. Tell them what you wish for, that you will stand by them and they do not have to fight alone, call your politicians, sign online petitions, spread the word, involve other people in the battle against Monsanto and USDA, not against WFM lol.
THis is truly shitty news…how about an FR campaign to help OCA launch a TV ad? OR a one-page NYT ad? It would be a hard-hitting first punch. Unbelieveable. We are going to grow our own, buying local, and joining local food co-op this year. Screw the corporatevampires. Let ’em suck organic OJ.
I totally agree with Eric that the way out of this mess is self-sufficiency. The next best thing is eating whole foods and buying them direct from your farmer neighbor. What a shame to lose good companies like this.
E. Baron:
I was a member of Organic Valley from 2000 through 2009. They may have started as a grass-roots organization back in the early ’90’s, but they became corrupt by 2000, they started abusing our farm right off the bat. We had a small dairy farm. The only reason we put up with it, to start, is because we (our family) was so economically desperate. I later grew very angry with them. They took complete and total advantage of us, used threats and intimidation and our economic insecurity against us. Now our dairy farm is gone….it died.
Really?? Your farm is gone (it died) because of Organic Valley?? I highly doubt it. Organic Valley IS a good company! You need to stop blaming others for your problems/failures.
And the U.S. of A. is all about freedom and democracy.
Yeah, right.
I used to forgive people like you Milana, thinking that you couldn’t help being so stupid. But I don’t anymore.
Ned Lud
How did Organic Valley “start abusing your farm right off the bat?” I know quite a few farmers that wouldn’t be farming today if it wasn’t for Organic Valley. Some even have had their children come back to farm with them. So, who are you calling stupid?
milana you are a stupid bitch
I support you MIlana. It is ridiculous how people know days are used to blame others for everything and pretend that there should always be someone to take care of them lol. If you are not doing good Nedlud and Ali, help yourselves… There is no one out there for you, whether you like it or not lol
Pingback: Organic Elite Surrenders to Monsanto: Whole Foods Market okays GMO …
Pingback: Organic Elite go GM
regarding WFM response, this is a sell-out. You don’t compromise on GMOs because they contaminate natural plants. You don’t deal with the devil.
It’s like asking us to endorse torture by water or by beating. I say no to both. So what the Monsanto-owned government plans to destroy organics — why should any organic organization support their plans?
There is no need to compromise. What benefit accrues to those organic orgs that endorse GMOs? What possible positive outcome can come from this? The USDA never needed WFM’s endorsement; it was going to go ahead anyway with its plans.
Pingback: Rant about safe food « eating with S.O.L.E.
Why is this Whole Foods fight? Isn’t this my fight and your fight and our fight. shouldn’t we be calling out senators right now. Whole Foods, QFC, whatever else are corporations. you don’t expect them to do the work for you do you? do you even know who Owens stonyfeild or all of the other natural food company’s.
Bravo David, Love your comment.
We would not even need to deal with this GE nonsense, because it would be non-existent, if we would have more people like you, instead of a bunch of complainers, unable to do anything, but fighting with people who support them. We would not have laws permitting patenting Genetically Modified Organisms, passed by people with money, in the first place, we would not have companies like Monsanto growing right in front of out “do not want to see anything” eyes, we would not have them laughing in our faces, because they are so good at brainwashing us and we are so buying it.
For those who do not know, patenting of life was not possible in the United States until recently. That is until one of the big corps decided they can profit from it considerable and brought Patent Office to the Supreme Court and changed the Patent Office rules to suit corp’s interests. Big corps are very good in going after what they want. And we are very good at watching TV and blaming others for our bad life. Or wait… did we go out and protested in front of the Supreme Court and Patent Office, invaded our political offices with our requests, organized huge united groups to stand for our right as we should… Don’t remember, do you? But then, of course, we didn’t have anybody to tell us about it… Not like we have to go and look and do our best to be informed ourselves… It is much easier to sit and wait for the big corps to inform us about what they want to do behind our backs… yes, that makes sense… It is good, there is someone to blame now for our troubles… like Whole Foods. Isn’t that a great opportunity to put our energy to use… yea,,, let’s protest in front of their store, not buy from them… Let’s switch to our gardens and farmers markets, so empowered Monsanto can get even stronger and successfully strangle our gardens and all the farmers along the way, as they gladly did in India already. I am sure they will be good at it – they know how to do it and they had enough practice. But, then, why would we worry about India and their farmers… It will never happen to us… lol
Also, maybe we should start taking WFM apart brick by brick to really express ourselves and to get closer to what we want and need… That would really deliver the message to them about how much we hate them for fighting for us and failing…. That would also keep Monsanto and USDA super happy… So let’s get to work… lol
…I figured, if you have read this to the end, you might want to be well informed about GE situation. Watch “Future of food” movie. It will give you lots of good information and answer many questions:.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Why-eat-organic/118992568220759
Best wishes…
For starters, Milana, they came to my farm with a DOT failed milk truck, something that should not have even been on the road….
…they sent inept drivers….and continued sending inept, unqualified drivers…
….for you who probably believe in real tight regulations and services, how’s that?
That’s barely the start of it.
S-T-U-P-I-D.
nedlud
The companies are pushing back, saying they have NOT caved and they’re going to keep fighting Monsanto:
Pingback: 483. January 31st…Just the facts…or the facts as they’re told to us…I mean… «
The OCA, which I normally support, did a disservice in their blanket condemnation of Stonyfield et al without explaining the true situation. Check out: http://www.stonyfield.com/blog/2011/01/29/the-organic-community-must-come-out-swinging-at-the-right-opponents/ A short excerpt:
“From the outset of these stakeholder discussions, it was clear that GE alfalfa had overwhelming political, legal, financial and regulatory support and thus the odds were severely stacked against any possibility of preventing some level of approval, just as has been the case with GE cotton, soy and corn. Keep in mind that, according to Food and Water Watch, biotech has spent more than half a billion dollars ($547 million) lobbying Congress since 1999. Their lobby expenditures more than doubled during that time. In 2009 alone they spent $71 million. Last year they had more than 100 lobbying firms working for them, as well as their own in-house lobbyists.
In December, to no one’s surprise, the USDA took a complete ban of GE alfalfa off the table as an option, leaving only two choices: complete deregulation or deregulation with some safeguards to protect organic farmers, which they called “co-existence.” The choice we were faced with was to walk away and wait for the legal battle in the courts or stay at the table and fight for safeguards that would attempt to protect organic farmers and consumer choice, still maintaining the option for legal battle later. A smaller coalition of organic interests participated in the meetings with the clear caveat that any decision to deregulate GE alfalfa must include restrictions that protect organic farmers and consumers’ choice. When faced with the overwhelming reality that GE alfalfa would be released despite our best efforts, we believed fighting for some safeguards to protect organic consumers and organic farmers was the best option.”
It seeems like it should be USDA that gets knocked around with a extra long picket line. I wish I lived near their offices. Do any of you?
I did the letter, at least, that will go out to the food stores.
http://myrasaidit.blogspot.com
Visit me here to learn about GMOs, Pesticides, and Insecticides.
I think the grass roots education is that no corporation is our friend. The bottom dollar is the almighty now and that as a consumer we all need to become activists. Reading and educating yourself about labels alone is a paradigm shifting event. Keep the momentum going and keep questioning. We call advertisers “the LIARS” in our house.. my kids are learning that the only purpose to any advertisement is to get you to buy what they want you to buy. AND that the companies are almost all willing to tell you ANYTHING to get you to do such. Sad…
On January 27, the Obama Administration made the damaging decision to approve the unrestricted cultivation of genetically engineered (GE) alfalfa. This means GE alfalfa can be planted without any federal requirements to prevent contamination of organic and non-GE crops. It also means that GE alfalfa does not have to be labeled, making it difficult for consumers to identify and avoid. This decision, to support big business at the expense of individual choice, sets a precedent that could lead to the deregulation of other GE crops, in spite of the fact that genetic engineering has not been conclusively proven safe. Don’t stand by while well-funded and well-connected biotechnology interests are given the power to eliminate marketplace choice. Demand that President Obama protect your right to choose products free of genetic engineering! http://ota.capwiz.com/ota/issues/alert/?alertid=24747501
I work at a family owned health food store that carries all organic produce as well as vitamins & supplements. In the cafe, we prepare foods with organic ingredients. It continues to be a challenge to use 100% organic for every dish. Many of our clients are cancer patients who are looking for the highest quality, cleanest food available so they can become well.
This news saddens me. I can’t help but wonder what my children will face for organic food options over the next 30 years. The USDA, FDA & Monsanto are all politically & financially motivated. I agree with Eric Hall who posted earlier. They are just controlling our population. The same goes for pharmaceuticals & vaccines. Power, Control & $$$, what a sad states of affairs 😦
let’s follow Joel Salatin’s idea: Beyond Organic — better than “USDA certified”
You had me until you mentioned vaccines…please elaborate.
Then why don’t we do something about it? Let’s TAKE ACTION in our best interests.
Let’s start by Telling FDA we want GMO food labeled:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Why-eat-organic/118992568220759?sk=app_195646697137509
Pingback: » Organic Elite Surrenders Check This Out!
What a disaster
Here is a retort to the accusations that are being made against Whole Foods.
Whole Foods Market Supports
Farmers’ Right to Farm, Consumers’ Right to Choose Non-GE Foods
Company Position on USDA Genetically Engineered Alfalfa Decision
WHAT: Whole Foods Market has always been a staunch supporter the availability of non-genetically engineered (GE or GMO) foods in the marketplace. The USDA made it clear that GE alfalfa would be deregulated in January, but we had hoped there might be a way to protect organics and the rights of non-GE farms through the “deregulation with restrictions” alternative the Agency proposed. To our utter disappointment, the USDA decided to completely deregulate GE alfalfa without restrictions, meaning GE crops would be planted as soon as this very spring. We find this irresponsible because there is no threshold or oversight to ensure organic and non-GE farmers right to grow their alfalfa without fear of possible contamination from other farmer’s GE crops.
WHAT WE SUPPORTED: Not allowing GE alfalfa or other genetically engineered crops was not an option, as the USDA was considering only two options on what to do with GE alfalfa: 1) full deregulation without requiring any restrictions on where or when it is planted or 2) conditional deregulation with restrictions (or “co-existence”) which would have set rules to protect non-GE crops from contamination. Whole Foods Market supported the “co-existence” option as it seemed it was the organic and non-GE industry’s best chance at preserving seed purity, giving consumers the opportunity to continue to be able to make the choice to buy non-GE products. We did not believe this was the perfect path, but it was the only possible path that would create meaningful change right now to protection of non-GMO farming.
CLEARING MISPERCEPTIONS: The OCA is known for misleading consumers and this time, has misconstrued our position by stating we have “surrendered” to Monsanto, “cut a deal” for co-existence, and that we’ll receive “compensation.” Nothing could be further from the truth. We, along with the National Cooperative Grocers Association, the National Organic Coalition, the Organic Trade Association, Organic Valley, Stonyfield Farms, United Natural Foods and many others in the organic community, were trying to secure protections for organic and non-GE farmers based on the options that were presented. This way, if fields became contaminated once the GMO alfalfa was released, biotechnology companies for the first time would be held accountable for their pollution and would be forced to pay organic and non-GE farmers for the damages. (No money would ever go to us.) We were also pushing for measures to protect seed purity so that non-GMO alfalfa supplies could be maintained. Unfortunately, none of these protections were approved.
WHY WE CARE: The issue with GE alfalfa is the potential contamination of organic and non-GE alfalfa, which is used as a mainstay food for organic dairy cows, beef cattle and honey bees. We also fear this decision may set a precedent for the future organic farming altogether.
FACT ABOUT GMOs: Given the prevalence of GE-crops in the U.S., no grocer can claim to be GMO free. Choosing organic is one way to avoid them. The other is through labeling, of which we are strong supporters. We have advocated for mandatory labeling of GE foods since 1992, even before they were made commercially available.
WHAT NOW: We will continue to work aggressively on this issue because we believe that GE food ingredients should be clearly labeled, and that consumers who want to avoid them should have an actionable way to do so. While the USDA’s decision will make our work more difficult, we are as committed as ever to ensuring that non-GE food remains available and we will continue to advocate for our farmers and for our shoppers. For example, our 365 Everyday Value® and Whole Foods Market™ brand products are sourced to avoid GMOS, and our partnership with the Non-GMO Project will enable us to verify and label both natural and organic products. This project ensures the sustained availability of non-GMO choices through an industry-wide product standard.
This makes me so sad. I loved shopping at my local WFM, but now will try to limit my shopping to farmers markets. I wish more people would wake up and realize what is happening to the world! I wish our country was more like EU when it comes to labeling and not allowing GM products on the shelves. It’s all about money and power, our gov doesn’t give a crap about our health and welfare. Not like that is news, but its frustrating to feel so helpless up against these giants. Monsanto is like Skynet, they are going to ruin the world.
I urge everyone to help support groups that are actively fighting against them like the Center for Food Safety: https://secure3.convio.net/cfs/site/Donation2?1311.donation=form1&df_id=1311&JServSessionIdr004=atz3w0zen1.app306a
I will also do more research and spend my money on people and companies who deserve it. Sorry WFM but you sold out and will no longer get my Whole Paycheck. I can’t wait to get land and start growing my own food! It is the only way we can REALLY control what we are putting into our bodies.
Just say no to Whole Foods. It’s just that simple. The only real power you have is economic power derived from what you buy or don’t buy. That uncontrollable collective can crush anything. While your vote is stolen on a black box computer and politicians ignore you because of this, your economic vote is the only one that really matters. Boycott Whole Foods and let them know with a phone call to the store manager near you.
http://911essentials.com
It’s all about the dollar; and our dollars are our vote. Time for a revival… just grow your own food or find a trusted farmer who believes in sustainable farming that is truly organic and pay him what it costs. If you think it costs too much, just consider it a donation to the cause.
This is just one more reason we plant our own food, get eggs, milk, cheese, and meat from local sources we know and trust….
If all Chemtrails looked like the picture with this article than maybe people might not close their eyes and ignore them. My family has already started planning our move to the middle of no-where to live off the land and SURVIVE the de-population agenda!
Pingback: More on the future of our food… « RawAndUnfiltered
“Shunning” Whole Foods, (and you don’t have to be Amish)
http://daiasolgaia.com/?p=3419
This is pathetic. Our US Government is more
corrupt than I realized.
I guess I won’t be shopping at Whole Foods again. I dislike “sellouts” and will not support them. Organic Farmers Markets and Trader Joes for me for now. As well as truly organic and wild-crafted online venues.
Pingback: rbST/rbGH « The Preservationist
Pingback: Whole Foods and others cave to the GMO industry
So disappointed that Whole Foods caved under pressure by Monsanto. Two words: Corporate Greed.
Not the first time “big organic” has made a deal with the devil.
I own a small resturant in the oakland hills area, i grow organic vegtables monsanto free i knew from the start whole pay check was a scam along with tricky joes,eat local buy local,when i work my gardens i feel my soul talking to me,feed the people the real deal,no round up no miraclegro.I am a member of the laguna nation new mexico its my duty to fight this monster,like nucelur power the jennie is out of thr bottle wake up peopel they are doing to you what they did to my people the weed.
thanks for your comment, the weed… and keep up the good work.
in solidarity
Echoing Rady, also in solidarity and respect.
Pingback: The Face of Food « Karla M Curry
you said it, “weed”, scam markets from day 1.
wfm, stoneyfield, joe’s et. al. have always sold garbage and sugary junk food to a population of slaves. it’s good business. but their philosophical sound bites are meaningless drivel. real food is not found on a shelf, and never will be.
more importantly, nature at the molecular and cellular level doesn’t compromise. the industrial century will fail spectacularly for humankind.
today we are corporate controlled and manipulated, divorced from nature, living in bio-regions never suited for sedentary occupation, unable to vote with our feet or live off the land, populations obliged to consume at the end of long supply chains. the Amish are no better. the entire system is unsustainable. indigenous turtle island was the last glimpse of earth wisdom until… who knows.. how this epoch will end and what will come next.
Pingback: GMO, Conventional or Organic—Know your PLU codes - YumUniverse™ | YumUniverse™
How can @JPlovesCOTTON (PR for Monsanto) sleep at night?
It’s really surprising to me how everyone that posted on this thread after Feb 7th ignored WFM’s statement about what really happened. We are a part of the National Cooperative Grocers Association, and I am proud that our national Co-op worked diligently along with our competitors to get some regulation of GMO alfalfa after USDA told us a complete ban was not going to be an option. Say what you want about large corporate businesses like whole foods in general, but 130 Co-ops around the country were right there with them trying to get what limited protections were possible for our local organic farmers from our corrupt government. But we even lost that fight. I am not really a fan, but Whole Foods did the right thing, and got slammed for it IMO.
Now stepping down off my soapbox.
Gotta love it. Still, how many people just think genetically engineered food is just ok? Food is food right? So wrong! Lets think through this, geeze. When a huge corporation supports it you know it is going to wreck your system.
http://thepreservationist.net
Wow, I’m amazed that those on here who took the article at face value, didn’t bother to read WFM’s rebuttal, and turned this into a bash fest against Whole Foods. Folks, try actually having FACTS before you start bashing. Do people here really think that Whole Foods can tell the USDA what to do? Moreover, in a battle for the loyalty of the USDA between Whole Foods and Monsanto, who do you HONESTLY think is going to win?
I agree with an earlier poster- Why are people complaining about Whole Foods when the PUBLIC is ultimately responsible for forcing the Government to take action against GMO’s? Why is John Mackey supposed to fight your battles for you? Whole Foods isn’t perfect, but it’s a damned sight better than most companies.
Pingback: Nailed » Blog Archive » wholesale food market
How can organic milk be organic if the cows eat GM alfala? Also whole foods just lost another customer.
while you’re jumping on wfm, check this out:
oca is a united nations ngo. agenda 21. global governance and population reduction. codex is un spawn,
just like agenda 21. the un is the enemy of all life. monsanto is a un funder. go figure.
just thought you might want to know how black the kettle is. black.
It’s a treat to seed your heap with the lunatic elite.
OMG!
Pingback: Are You Ready For The Mindfulness Revolution? Part Three | elephant journal
this beast needs to be taken down.. monsanto is a theocratic monstrosity that has destroyed our planet…this is unbelievable-the horrific sell-out of these companies.. boycott!
Pingback: Whole Foods Market CAVES IN to MONSANTO : ( - Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, Conservatives, Liberals, Third Parties, Left-Wing, Right-Wing, Congress, President - City-Data Forum
FDA, USDA – They are in bed with large corporations that create medicine and genetically engineered food that harm our bodies and minds. They are not protecting the American people, they are sacrificing the American people for $$$$$$.
Your dollar will be the biggest message of all. Buy local, buy organic, grow your own. If everyone that reads this calls a big manufacturer, like Nestle or Mars candies and tells them you will no longer buy their product because of GMO beet sugar then perhaps they will start changing to non-GMO ingredients.
Just heard that the round up gmo seed contaminates our food with dioxin(agent orange) causing cancer. Who will pay for all of our grandchildren and their children to fight cancer? They do not have a chance if it is in the food especially soybean because soy is in nearly everything we buy one way or another. How do we stop this? Actually who will even back us? According to the program I heard there are no guns or bombs needed to kill us all just Monsanto. I know their modified rice does not taste the same nor does it cook the same. I live in the south where rice is the livelihood of our farmers. According to the program everything from corn to okra has been tainted. The doctors offices are filled with those with stomach problems. No wonder. Again what is to be done?
As a former employee of Whole Foods Market aka The Organic WalMart, I can tell you that they are only interested in money. Nothing else. They are huge corporation and they don’t care about anything except their own greed. The fight against GMOs was an easy one for them to give up. The $$$$ gain was so great for them as a corporation. Just as they have abandoned their mission of creating a healthy and balanced workplace for WFM employees. That was an easy one for them to give up too. In this job market, they know that people are willing to endure just about anything to keep a job. So why not treat their employees the same as, let’s say, WalMart. There is little recycling at the store level. What customers see is window dressing in that respect. The majority of store rubbish goes in the trash and then into the landfills. They donate very little day old food to charity because it takes too much labor (or $$$). They are now on a kick where they are hiring only part time, $10.00 an hour disposable employees (no benefits and easy to terminate). Their good works in developing nations is suspect. Who is going to check? They lie to their customers about their terribly expensive prepared foods (saying items are organic when in fact they are not…again who’s going in to their kitchens to check?) .WFM will never get another dime from me. John Mackey and the rest of them can all rot in hell.
Yeah, GMO’s with “restrictions” can stop the wind! HA!!!
OMG! I can’t believe I just found out that WFM was complicit in this! I figured it was just the Obama Administration. Yep – at least nobody would be surprised if this happened under Bush (although they did at least re-examine GMO sugar beets under him – Vilsack killed the banning of GMO beets)!
BTW: just saw an ad on TV about how “safe” fracking for natural gas is! Yippie! Pataki (a Republican) had outright banned it – it is the DEMOCRATS Patterson and Cuomo who are PUSHING to totally destroy the Catskills by allowing (actually, begging) the oil / gas companies to come here and pollute the water supplies and farmlands.
Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich are the ONLY politicians who can be trusted to represent and protect the people!
BTW: Didn’t Trader Joe’s outright BAN all GMO products from their stores like 10 years ago?
Re: Trader Joe’s: the answer is unfortunately “no.” I believe the store brand is non GMO, but they do sell other GMO products.
“USDA ORGANIC” vs “Natural” vs “Certified Naturally Grown”:
Just a head’s up: I wouldn’t be so quick to trust the USDA / FDA! The word “Natural” on a product means NOTHING, but there is a LEGITIMATE volunteer organization of SMALL FAMILY FARMS (it was created by the founders of the “Organic” movement after the USDA pretty much bankrupted them with EXCESSIVE fees to be certified “USDA Organic”) who the USDA is currently doing everything in its power to shut down. “Certified Naturally Grown” is for SMALL FARMS ONLY, allows NO pesticides, NO herbicides, NO GMO seeds, NO hormones / antibiotics, and the livestock must be TRULY FREE-RANGE.
Bye, bye, Whole Foods, Stonyfield Farms and Organic Valley! Whole Foods, you’ve been on the chopping block for awhile. Stonyfield and Organic Valley, I loved you once but no longer. You are all banned from my world, and I will tell everyone in it what hypocritical scoundrels you are.
Pingback: Estado do Impacto do Programa de Aerosol – Chemtrails, entre 1999-2011
I have not shopped at whole food since I learned some of thier brands help support terrorism. Just sayin, look into it
Organic Comic Strip: http://lolalollipop.com/25-im-organic
lol… cute.
Screw you, Whole Foods. AND Monsanto
Thank you!
Noooooooooooooooooo!
DEATH TO MONSANTO
ali,
that belligerent reply deserved to be censored along with any others you sent in since.
milana,
you ok with sounding that naive?
nedlud,
please do go on. might be a piece worthy of publishing here. rady can probably work up an excellent article.
all,
please get serious. john mackey was a sell out from day one. obusha modeled his speeches on mackey. (see mackey’s false persona’s praising mackey on chatrooms, mackey’s aggressive advocacy of weakened organic food laws,…) also please keep in mind that trader joe’s is aldi’s
http://www.nowpublic.com/tech-biz/theo-albrecht-aldi-trader-joes-owner-dies-88-2644977.html
forgot that clarence thomas was monsanto’s chief counsel. had not forgotten that elena kagan also worked for agent orange inc. anyone consider writing an article listing out all the demagogue-in-cheif’s appointments of demagogues in all positions? even his chief allies like lieberman?
it goes way deeper. folk like urbanfarmingguys.com got it exactly right and will continue to. unfortunately the new world orderers like kissinger are counting on their control. first they control and crash the currency. then they control and crash the food supply. can only imagine them either outright regulating urbanfarmingguys out of business (see rawsomefood raids) or flat out guerrilla warfare. it is a matter of time. which is no excuse for us to do our best in the meanwhile.
some of the agenda 21 fears are spot on. the only purpose and achievement of any government regulation has been the elimination of competition. think the tobacco companies and their efforts against regulation or recognition that they knew their products destroy or addict their customers. at some point, they profitted more by eliminating smaller competitors and so dropped their court battles and welcomed fda regulation. that made it impossible for all but the largest to compete in tobacco.
mackey and all are doing the same in food. our best bet so far seems to be that economic/resource collapse provides weakens the globalists to some useful degree. meanwhile, perhaps we can fair better against the imperialists than the second and third world nations attacked so far by corporate raiders, imf, world bank,…. and all the other rothschild/rockefeller clan.
perhaps nature will render some help too. seems monsanto is having problems with their products keeping up with natural evolution this year (see illinois and iowa corn borers). if nothing else, the richest 100th of a percent are bound to eventually figure out they have to eat off the same plate they are poisoning us with.
what is that about chickens coming home to roost?
thank you ronnie cummings
btw, nice graphic.
If more people cared enough to educate themselves truly about the
lies and contradictions that the government, monsanto and so called natural grocerers are pedalling, good change could happen. I don’t support Whole Foods or shop there. People need to educate themselves as to who they are giving their money too, what it is supporting and the cause and effect of it all. If only North Americans had a conscious.
While I detest the idea of Franken-foods and I think Monsanto is pretty much the worst corporate citizen ever, there must be a modicum of realism here. We have been eating genetically engineered crops for approximately 5,000 years. There is absolutely no way to eat without ingesting some form of artificial genetic modification. To say that Whole Foods has been hiding the fact that their food supply has been contaminated by GMO ingredients and is hiding it is irresponsible and very myopic. Anyone with any sense knows that even the so-called ‘heirloom’ crops came about through artificially selected genetics. Perhaps it is time to re-focus efforts to aspects of this fight that are pertinent and solvable. The argument about damage to the environment from Roundup was very strong. Pointing out the cozy relationships between CEOs and politicians is also very eye-opening.
No, we have not been “eating genetically modified crops for approximately 5,000 years.” Genetic engineering is a relatively new science and has nothing to do with breeding, which is what you are referring to.
GE involves using parts of genetic material from organisms from a different KINGDOM of life, and the only way those proteins can attack the host DNA is by adding viruses to the mix. This results in cancer, toxin uptake and allergies in humans and animals, as numerous studies have shown (and which have long been discussed here at Food Freedom).
Deceptive industry talking points like that only serve to highlight why the public has no reason to trust the biotech industry.
This not the issue–the issue is the deception in which WF has presented there marketing misleading people—i have been saying for years that Organics are a farse due to proximity and cross genetics through various factors –Secondly what you are saying is not accurate either–the genetics we are referring her are the ones that are manipulated to carry Genetics that would never have crosssed over –interspecies or genetically man made materials is not the same as the evolutionary process you are referring to and if it is done naturally then you are going to have same species integration vegetation to vegetation and not insect to vegetation or animal to vegetation especially if the animals are herbavores–something o consider
In order to truly live organic we need the tools and resources to point us in the right direction. We can’t expect the USDA or corporations to teach us, it’s not in their “financial” best interest.
go ahead evil ones take over our food supply, so we can make children that are deformed and diseased and mentally challenged,so our crops that are hideous and monstrous, and the grower gets penalized for getting involved with the evil one.
AND WHY DO WE NEED TO PUT OUR NAME UP
I read the WFM rebuttal and it makes a lot of sense….. we should be focusing our attention on the USDA, no?
http://blog.wholefoodsmarket.com/2011/01/no-regulations-ge-alfalfa/
Pingback: A Spooky Halloween Food Story « Frances L Arnold's Blog
Pingback: Would You Go For Processed Or Whole Food? - …Want to Know More About Whole Food Benefits? - Whole Food Diets Here Is The Scoop!
Pingback: Support your local farmers! « Just In Case I'm Not Here Tomorrow
WOW! I am struggling to buy organic foods for my allergies and my health. I paid 8.00 for organic valley milk last week at whole foods. wow! I could Cry right now. I have given up so many things to buy healthy food for me and my family. struggling to eat safe. This whole thing is just so evil. God help us! I grew my own organic potatoes and lettuce this year pesticide free. I don’t have the land to grow all my food. I cannot believe they caved in to monsanto!
Please do not listen to misinformed people around, It only makes you worried without reason. There is nothing wrong with these organic companies. In fact, they are trying to help us. I have shopped with them forever, am shopping and will be shopping.
Here is the link ” Organic Companies and Monsanto – clearing the misunderstanding”:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Why-eat-organic/118992568220759?sk=app_137541772984354
Hope this helps.
Pingback: Organic Elite Surrenders to Monsanto: Whole Foods Market okays GMO coexistence - WeUseCoupons.com
Pingback: A CHANGE GONE COME….YOU HOPE « nextstopuk
Pingback: Whole foods surrenders, organic/non organic, all to be run by Monsanto - Cameldog Mixed Martial Arts Forums
Pingback: Organic Elite Surrenders to Monsanto: Whole Foods Market okays GMO coexistence
Just makes me cry for our world.
We know better.
Money talks.
Pingback: Are “Frankenfoods” Really All that Scary? | World Hair Research
Struggle against Empire or corporatism its all the same struggle.
The basic needs of Human existence: Food and Water are whats at stake in this struggle.
Steven D; great comment. You are right my friend. I will personally shop less at WFM for their abject cowardice and stupidity on this one, and plan to sprout my own alfalfa, a delicious, healthy and easy thing to do.
Go away Whole Foods, you are a dis-grace!
Do you know your farmer?
Pingback: Whole Foods, What’s the Deal? « Southeast Kansas Buying Club
Pingback: The Big Guys of Faux Organics Are Cramming Coexistence with GMOs Down Our Throats | Gaia Health
Here is a response from Stonyfield Farms. http://www.stonyfield.com/blog/2011/01/29/the-organic-community-must-come-out-swinging-at-the-right-opponents/
Pingback: Articles for February 2012 | Conscious Media Network
wow ~ when you trust and think its safe its not time to go to farmers markets and also plant our own
Does Monsanto own Whole Foods? Did you know that approximately 2/3 of the products sold by Whole Foods Market and their main distributor, United Natural Foods (UNFI) are not certified organic, but rather are conventional (chemical-intensive and GMO-tainted) foods and products disguised as “natural.” Whole Foods and UNFI are maximizing their profits by selling quasi-natural products at premium organic prices. Organic consumers are increasingly left without certified organic choices while genuine organic farmers and ranchers continue to lose market share to “natural” imposters. SHAME ON YOU WHOLE FOODS!!!! No more of my hard-earned money will you get FRAUD!!!!!!!!!
I feel the same DeNise. I feel totally betrayed. I do need to fact check some things but I have a feeling I’m going to come up with disappointing facts. Where can we get truly organic/raw food that has not been tainted by Monsanto? Independent stores are being raided and shut down by our tyrannical government.
Its amazing to me that one article can be so circulated and taken as fact without any questioning. I realize it’s a time of great distrust towards corporate anything, with good reason, but this is a huge claim that has been widely distributed without question. Has anyone on this comment list taken a moment to look into the facts? It doesn’t seem so. Left or Right, there sure is a lot of herd mentality out there.
Pingback: Rendição à Monsanto « Contra-Educação
A fast burn fat plant jumped over the lazy man
If you really, really want to see the big, big picture..then you should watch the move:
http:earthshiftcommunity.ning.com/video/thrive-full-movie.
We have been srewed for many a years. Hitler was a saint compared to what is happening right under or noses!
Pingback: A Spooky Halloween Food Story - Frances L Arnold
Seven of Nine said it truly, “RESISTANCE IS FUTILE”.
I’ll agree to COEXIST ….. IF YOU agree to LABEL ALL GMO AND PARTS THEREOF.
Labeling would be a good start. Honest labeling helps empower consumers to make their own choices. It also allows for accountability — right now, if you don’t label it, you can’t prove cause and effect. Which is why biotech fights tooth and nail to prevent any type of labeling whatsoever, and why they don’t conduct peer review (other than in a cynical, screw-the-public, Arthur Andersen-Enron fashion).
But like others I don’t believe that coexistence is possible. You can’t control what happens in nature, and non-GMO crops invariably become contaminated with GE seeds. So, labeling can’t be the last word; it should only be a start. It would definitely help educate American consumers, though, most of whom are still very much in the dark because they are deliberately kept in the dark through marketing and media. Prove that GE foods are injuring our children, however, and you galvanize an army of outraged parents.
Money answers everything.
Idiots. You’ve lost my business. GMOs are the single biggest threat to the food supply of the world, and Monsanto is truly evil. I won’t be enabling you, and I withdraw all of my participation with and support of anything with your infected brand on it. Enjoy your 30 pieces of silver now, once that’s gone you’ll have no customers and only poison left to eat.
Pingback: Organic Elite Surrenders to Monsanto: Whole Foods Oks Coexistence | Decrypted Matrix | of | the Mind
Pingback: GMO, Conventional or Organic—Going Beyond PLU codes - YumUniverse™
That does it. I am now boycotting WFM. Why should I support an organization that does not support my right to eat non GMO organic foods. If they would donate to the yes on Prop 37 fund in California I might reconsider. But apparently all they have is excuses as to why they not longer stand for non GMO products.
who do you think gets the money from the ‘money bombs’ on both sides of the issue? why money bombs in the first place? this whole issue is staged. un ngos on both sides. un funds both sides of evil. whole foods is connected to the un, oca is a un ngo, carighttoknow/fooddemocracynow are un ngos. organic valley is connected to the un. it is STAGED! for our entertainment. take it seriously if you like. i no longer shop at whole foods. i have outed oca etal for being controlled opposition. the entanglement of this global web is beyond imagining. if it is un – it is bad. walk away. do the best you can without. and please remember that the rockefeller foundation, monsanto, dupont, dow, codex alimentarius, agenda 21 (global dictatorship), imf, world bank, land grabs, loss of property rights, end of private vehicles and so much more are all UN! UN!
the tyrants of our planet have founded, funded and assembled under the aegis of the un.
The speedy red wolf jumped over the lazy dog
May I just say what a comfort to find a person that truly knows what they are talking about online. You actually realize how to bring an issue to light and make it important. More people must check this out and understand this side of your story. I was surprised you’re not more popular because you most certainly possess the gift.
Pingback: Monsanto and Competition - Pilant's Business Ethics
I have a question: Why can’t non-GMO foods be labled as ‘non-gmo’?
Wouldn’t that be a perfect way to circumvent the problem?
Aw, this was a really good post. Spending some time and actual effort to generate a great article… but what can I say… I put things off a lot and don’t manage to get nearly anything done.
GET THE FACTS PEOPLE! The United States government FORCED Whole Foods Market to do this because the government has Monstanto written all over it! It was either comply or be shut down. Plain and simple. Ok, so don’t eat the Alfalfa! At least we still have other organic products available through Whole Foods Market. It’s better than a regular grocery store for those of us who are unable to grow our own!
Reblogged this on Travels with Mary and commented:
What a fabulous post! A must read for ALL who are concerned about GMO’s! Thanks for the great write-up
Hy dear movie fans. Nice to see so many people appreciating movies old and new ones. How about I present you my movie website. You may think Oh God yet another website about movies why so many. Well my friends the catch is that here awesomemovieshd.blogspot.com you can watch all new movies in HD resolution without annoying ads or paying anything Just sit back hit the play button hug your darling and enjoy :)))
I can say America has really gone to hell in a hand basket. Many European countries do not allow GMO’s into their country. I lived there for almost 30 years. It’s a shame that our government allows such corperations to use the Consumer as ginipigs. Our politicians has sold us out years ago. I am truly ashamed to be an American. These companies are poisoning our bodies, land, water and animals that we consume and many Americans do not give a damn. We received in Europe uncensored information about Monsanto. Many there are against this corperations that is poisoning the Americans. Our government
only cares about themselves and not of the American people. What a sad sad country American has turned into. She has lost her glory many many years ago. And she will never get it back. The world doesn’t respect her like they use to. Too much corruption and has lost face in the European Union.
Pingback: A Spooky Halloween Food Story – Namaste Nutritionist
I just know that people simply do not believe in God because this monsantos company is horrible, & ones like it. God sits high and looks low for a reason, he sees everything that we do and he knows the heart of all mankind. This is really evil, it really is. The Bible says that the love of money is the root of all evil, well what is more evil than this and it’s for money. It’s definitely greed.
Who is anybody that they shall cause death or harm to God’s people, his creation. If he gave his only begotten son that we should have life and have it more abundantly then why do you think that it is good for you to put anything in food or or feed this stuff to animals because they are also his creation. Well God is going to bring his condemnation harshly down on you. You hate and do things to people with no malice in your heart as if you were taking a stroll down the street. You can’t possibly fear God and that is because you absolutely do not believe in him. You don’t believe in him because he is not visibly in your face like you would be to your friends and family.
May God have mercy on your souls.
This is absolutely nothing short of murder. You should never suffer God’s children.
But it’s not just GMOs, it is even in the Health & Hospital fields. Even the doctors a perfectly misdiagnosing people for the sale of medications because of the love of money they have. God Is Watching You.
Pingback: The Face of Food – Karla M Curry