Whole Foods Market Caves to Monsanto

[xchrom]

http://www.prwatch.org/spin/2011/01/9903/whole-foods-market-caves-monsanto

After 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 asking 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.

[CoffeeCat]

1. Where are the heroes?

When in the hell will someone stand up to these corporations and tell them to go *#ck themselves?

Yes, we know these corporate overlords are evil. They probably threaten their victims with every horror
under the sun--including financial ruin, physical harm, baseless charges pressed against them, etc.

But for Pete's sake--someone, ANYONE, get these bastards on tape or video and expose this cabal.

These sociopaths are only as powerful as their victims allow them to be.

Many, many people--across many industries--understand that these corporations have taken over our country
and our government.

Silence only helps the perpetrators. Who will be the heroes that will finally say no to these bullies?

[Ghost Dog]

2. Boycott the fraudulent corporate bastards. n/t

[a kennedy]

3. This just makes me sick.....

How can we win up against these giants.....ugh. I still try to look for the USDA label on organic foods.

[cyglet]

4. Still don't understand

why people shop there...

[They_Live]

5. This story is a year old.

It's an important story, but a year old.

[qb]

6. So Whole Foods is just like any other grocery chain but with a slightly larger organic inventory.

Not to mention over-priced.
One more reason to avoid the frauds.

[They_Live]

7. Unfortunately,

"Organic" doesn't mean what it used to mean, thanks to Corporate Agriculture pressuring the USDA to change its standards and definitions years ago. It was right after that when Organic fruit and vegetables were suddenly available everywhere.

[glinda]

8. The even bigger sad joke is the poisoning of the food chain as if payouts correct that.

[wakemewhenitsover]

9. What a horrible turn. Monsanto's GMO corn has been linked to organ damage in rats.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/12/monsantos-gmo-corn-linked_n_420365.html

Makes me extremely uneasy about eating even a friggin' Dorito.