UPDATED: I wrote an email to Whole Foods Market telling them I would no longer be a patron of their store until they clearly labeled their non-organic foods with the label "May Contain GMO's".

Date:   1/29/2011 2:17:11 AM ( 13 y ago)

Whole Foods in Bed with Monsanto?  Organic Consumer's Association accuses Whole Foods Market, Organic Valley and Stonyfield Farm of "publicly admit(ing) 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 (U.S. Secretary of Agriculture)."  Read More:  http://curezone.com/blogs/fm.asp?i=1760836


After reading the OCA article (see blog post above), I wrote the following email to Whole Foods Market  on Jan 29, 2011 (adapted from a petition being circulated by Organic Consumers Association http://www.capwiz.com/grassrootsnetroots/issues/alert/?alertid=21526516&t...

 

Re: GMOs and Factory Farms: Truth-in-Labeling

Dear Whole Foods Market:

As a long-time shopper to your store, I am very disappointed and angry that Whole Foods Market will 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 (U.S. Secretary of Agriculture).  Furthermore, the so-called "natural" (non-organic) processed foods and animal products in your store are contaminated with GMOs, making them no better than products found in any other non-health food store, yet your company charges a higher price for them because of the "natural" label. ( http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_22449.cfm  )

As a shopper who is concerned about the health, environmental, ethical, and socio-economic hazards of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and industrial-scale factory farms or CAFOs (Confined Animal Feeding Operations), I strongly believe that we have an inalienable right, as citizens, to know whether the food we are purchasing likely contains Genetically Modified ingredients (specifically soy, corn, cottonseed oil, canola, sugar beets or GM growth hormones) or comes from animals confined in CAFOs.

Although "USDA Organic" standards and labels prohibit the use of GMOs or CAFO confinement practices, the overwhelming majority of non-organic foods in grocery stores or supermarkets do not reveal whether or not they likely contain GMOs or come from a factory farm supply chain.

According to the Grocery Manufacturers of America and the Biotechnology Industry Association, approximately 80% of current grocery food items contain GMOs; while according to U.S. Department of Agriculture records, the majority of beef, pork, poultry, dairy, and eggs now come from CAFOs.

CAFOs are defined legally by the Environmental Protection Agency as confined animal feeding operations containing 1000 beef cattle, 700 dairy cows, 2500 pigs, or 125,000 broilers or 82,000 laying hens or pullets.

Your stores should clearly identify all food products containing non-organic soy, corn, cottonseed oil, canola, sugar beets or GM growth hormones with a label or shelf sign that says "May Contain GMOs" and identify all beef, pork, poultry, dairy, and eggs that come from CAFOs with a label or shelf sign that says "CAFO."

Until I see such labeling in your store, I will no longer be a patron of Whole Foods Market and will take my business elsewhere--to small health food stores with majority organic produce and products, and farmer's markets.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

The next day, after receiving the responses from Organic Valley and Stonyfield Farm, but not yet receiving a response from Whole Foods Market, I wrote a second, more conciliatory email on Jan 30, 2011:

I received an email from Organic Consumer's Association accusing Whole Foods Market, Organic Valley and Stonyfield Farms of "publicly admit(ing) 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 (U.S. Secretary of Agriculture)." --"The Organic Elite Surrenders to Monsanto: What Now? By Ronnie Cummins, Organic Consumers Association, Jan 27, 2011 Straight to the Source http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_22449.cfm  

The article also issues this quote: "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. Both Organic Valley and Stonyfield Farm responded to my letter of inquiry regarding these accusations. They state very strongly that these accusations are false. I was very upset when reading the original accusations and fired off a vehement email to your company yesterday. I apologize for this, as I should have waited to hear from you first. Please comment. Please explain the quote attributed to your company. Sincerely,

Whole Foods Market Responds: Whole Foods Market responds to my two emails of inquiry regarding the Organic Consumer's Association (OCA) accusations that the company no longer opposes the mass commercialization of GE crops. They state that the OCA "distorted" their position and that they were trying to secure protections for organic farmers in light of the USDA's stance of approval for Monsanto's GE alfalfa. READ Whole Foods Market responses here: http://curezone.com/blogs/fm.asp?i=1762220

Organic Valley Responds:  Organic Valley/Organic Prairie responds to my letter of inquiry regarding the Organic Consumer's Association (OCA) accusations that the company no longer opposes the mass commercialization of GE crops. They state very strongly that these accusations are false and they have not "sold out" to Monsanto and continue to be committed to keeping organic crops safe from GMO's.   http://curezone.com/blogs/fm.asp?i=1761617 


Stonyfield Farm Responds: Stonyfield Farm responds to my letter of inquiry regarding the Organic Consumer's Association (OCA) accusations that the company no longer opposes the mass commercialization of GE crops. They state very strongly that these accusations are false and they will continue to vehemently oppose GMO's.   http://curezone.com/blogs/fm.asp?i=1761609

Sign the Petition sponsored by the Organic Consumer's Association calling for Truth-in-Labeling regarding GMO's and Factory Farms: http://www.capwiz.com/grassrootsnetroots/issues/alert/?alertid=21526516&t...

OCA Responds  Ronnie Cummins of the Organic Consumers Association responds to my email seeking comment on the OCA accusations against Whole Foods Market, Organic Valley, and Stonyfield Farms. OCA stands by it's original accusations that these 3 companies betrayed the trust of organic consumers.

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