Originally published June 7 2011
Despite its efforts, even Whole Foods cannot keep GMOs out of the products it sells (correction)
by Tara Green
(NaturalNews) Genetically modified foods have become so ubiquitous in the US that even the grocery store 'Whole Foods' now admits it cannot keep biotech foods off its shelves. A representative for the corporation acknowledged in May of 2011 that the realities of the marketplace have forced a shift in the company's previous no-GMO's policy.
(Correction note: The original title of this article has been altered to better reflect the accuracy of this story. As a clarification, Whole Foods does take steps to avoid GMO ingredients, but due to the massive use of genetically engineered ingredients in the food supply, it is currently impossible to avoid GMOs in conventional or "natural" products. As a result, many food products sold at Whole Foods do, in fact, contain genetically engineered ingredients, even when Whole Foods would prefer they didn't.)
Joe Dickson, quality standards coordinator for Whole Foods Markets, notes that GMO's dominate the market, especially for corn, soy and canola crops from which ingredients in most processed foods are derived. "Until there's federal government mandated labeling of GMO ingredients, there's no way to tell if packaged products contain GMO ingredients," Dickson said. "Our approach is to work in the spirit of partnership with our suppliers ... to encourage them to take active steps to avoid GMO ingredients."
In spite of public skepticism about GMO foods, the FDA has backed Monsanto and other corporations, declaring that modified foods do not require special labeling letting consumers know they are eating Frankenfoods. This is in contract to the European Union, where public concern over health issues resulted in a moratorium on GMO's. Many European countries, including France, Germany, Greece, Austria and Luxembourg have banned genetically modified foods, while other countries in the EU permit their sale only when products include clear labels of GMO ingredients.
Whole Foods' recent admission proves how successful the biotech companies have been in their efforts to replace foods unadulterated by hormones with Frankenfoods. The fact that one of the best-known purveyors of natural foods has decided to throw in the towel rather than holding the line against biotech foods means consumers will have fewer places to go in their quest to buy non-genetically engineered foods.
Jeffrey Smith points out in his book Seeds of Deception, the biotech industry has co-opted the watchdog agencies of the federal government and sought to silence critics in the media and the scientific community who question sloppy science which they use to "prove" the safety of Frankenfoods. Natural News readers should read Smith's book to understand the efforts Monsanto and others have gone to -- including smear campaigns and threats against those who seek to present other points of views and the theft of research materials contradicting their biotech claims that Frankenfoods are completely safe.
Even the long-standing EU "zero-tolerance" policy on biotech foods has shown signs of cracking in the past few months, as the Union considers lifting import restrictions which formerly kept US-grown GMO's from being sold in Europe. As reported on Natural News late last year (http://www.naturalnews.com/030828_GMOs_Wikil...), the forbidden information which surfaced through Wikileaks included documents revealing that the US government has conspired with the biotech companies to pressure European countries on the issue of genetically engineered foods.
Move past the propaganda put forth by Monsanto and their government lapdog agencies by educating yourself on the dangers of GMO's both on this website and in Jeffrey Smith's books and website. Try to keep your diet Frankenfood-free by finding a local food coop whose "quality standards" do not involve caving in to the biotech companies.
Sources for this article include:
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2011/05/25/Or...
http://www.naturalnews.com/031224_GMOs_conta...
http://www.responsibletechnology.org/
http://www.seedsofdeception.com/Public/Home/...
http://www.euractiv.com/en/trade/eu-gmo-ban-...
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