Originally published March 18 2015
Oprah, who is pro organic and pro GMO labeling, runs a Monsanto ad in O Magazine
by Jennifer Lilley
(NaturalNews) Talk show queen Oprah Winfrey has long-been involved in the fight against genetically modified foods; not only does she own an organic farm in Maui, but her highly successful magazine has featured articles warning of GM foods' long-term health effects. That's why many people are shocked to learn that a Monsanto ad appeared in a 2015 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine.(1)
Change.org, a site that encourages the masses to sign petitions for a bevy of causes, talks about this upsetting turn of events.
It's left many people wondering why the environment- and health-conscious celebrity's magazine is running a Monsanto ad. The site urges people to sign the "Oprah and O Magazine drop your Monsanto Ad!" petition with the hopes that other Monsanto ads do not appear in the publication in the future.(2)
Sign the petition to end the contradiction
According to the Change.org petition:
[W]e are confused and deeply saddened to see that your highly-regarded magazine, O Magazine, is running an advertisement for Monsanto, a company that according to a 2014 Harris Poll from [Nielsen], was ranked 3rd worst among 60 high-profile companies. Oprah, we can only assume that you may be unaware of the misalignment of this advertisement by Monsanto, which is a company that is in total contradiction with your core values that support integrity, authenticity, truth, responsibility and self-care.(2)
While the site tends to take issue with Oprah directly, we at Natural News are in agreement with Change.org's stance that perhaps the ad's appearance is an oversight on her part. We'd like to think that such an intelligent woman -- who owns land in Hawaii with the mission to produce only healthy, non-GMO foods -- truly let this slip, relying on staff to give the final publication go-ahead without her even eyeing the issue beforehand.
Still, whoever is responsible, be it a well liked media intern or several senior-level staff members, the fact that a GMO-friendly ad has appeared in a publication that has stood against GM foods is disturbing. Sadly, the ad begs the question as to what people are to believe anymore, raising the question that perhaps serious ad money may even trump a successful magazine's long-standing health beliefs.
Happy Monsanto family ad: "It's time for a discussion about food"
For those curious, the ad appears innocent enough. A smiling family is shown gathered around a kitchen table where it appears they are being served salad and vegetables. The ad copy informs readers that the "best dinners are the ones with lively conversation," a segue that attempts to encourage others to talk about sustainability and agriculture. It goes on to mention the importance of ideas and resources, adding, "That's why we partner with farmers, nonprofits, and many others." The ad's final line delivers the statement, "It's time for a bigger discussion about food."(1)
Compare this ad to an issue of O that featured an article titled, "How Do Genetically Modified Foods Affect Your Health?" and it's clear that something is gravely out of whack in this whole scenario.(3)
Previous magazine article stresses importance of GMO labeling
The article made the case for GMO labeling, even citing a professor of food science and technology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a former Monsanto scientist. The article's author discusses how "inserting new genes into a seed's delicately constructed genome is always a gamble because scientists can't predict all the consequences. There is, for example, the possibility of creating brand-new allergens."(3)
Be sure to head over to Change.org ASAP and sign this petition.
Hopefully, such a mixed message doesn't happen again in the magazine. Even more, fingers are crossed that this isn't a bleak sign of things to come where, in the future, it's ultimately uncovered that Oprah got mixed up with the bad guys and has been deceiving millions all along under the guise of running a lovely farm in Hawaii.
For now, Natural News wants to think of the glass half full and do the best that we can regarding this matter by signing a petition to prevent this and other Monsanto ads from appearing in the magazine again.
Time will tell.
Sources:
(1) http://realitieswatch.com
(2) https://www.change.org
(3) http://www.oprah.com
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