Whole Foods endorses Prop. 37
Source: Los Angeles Times Business
Whole Foods endorses Prop. 37
The natural goods retailer is backing the proposition to require labeling of genetically engineered food ingredients. But changes it suggests cannot be made to the measure before the vote.
By Marc Lifsher, Los Angeles Times
September 15, 2012
SACRAMENTO Whole Foods Market, the largest U.S. natural-goods specialty retailer, has endorsed a California initiative that would require the labeling of genetically engineered food ingredients.
The Austin, Texas, company is backing Proposition 37 on the November ballot "because it has long believed its customers have the right to know how their food is produced."
That "right to know" is the main argument for the ballot measure, which has strong support from farmers, processors and sellers of organic foods. It's opposed by biotech companies, grocery manufacturers and the soft drink industry, among others.
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Opponents, so far, have raised about $25 million to fight Proposition 37, while supporters reported $3.5 million as of Sept. 1, according to Maplight.org, a nonpartisan voter information service. Whole Foods has not contributed to the Yes on 37 campaign, according to filings with the California secretary of state.
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Read more: http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-whole-foods-endorse-20120915,0,2481280.story
proverbialwisdom
(4,959 posts)SoapBox
(18,791 posts)But...look at the money difference.
Sometimes I feel doomed by the 1%er's.
Gotta keep fighting.
proverbialwisdom
(4,959 posts)Uneasy Allies in the Grocery Aisle
By STEPHANIE STROM
Published: September 13, 2012
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Ronnie Cummins, founder and national director of the Organic Consumers Association, which represents some 850,000 members, said he expected the food and biotech companies that oppose the measure to spend roughly twice what they have already contributed by the time of the Nov. 6 election.
Nonetheless, Mr. Cummins said he expected it to pass. In a poll of 800 likely California voters in July by the California Business Roundtable and Pepperdine University, 64.9 percent said they were inclined to vote in favor of Proposition 37 based on their knowledge at that time.
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lunasun
(21,646 posts)no matter where you live you can help this prop become law
mkultra321
(58 posts)Plus column: general endorsement for labeling to help consumers
Minus column: they entered the game late with their endorsement and then tried to throw their weight around to change provisions of the ballot. This may make their endorsement more of a wedge than a lever.
efhmc
(14,709 posts)Whether we like it or not, that's how things get done.
mkultra321
(58 posts)Or did they, as a corporation, follow the money of the customers who were looking for organic food? Now that they have that customer base locked up, they are trying to call all the shots. Some of it by listening to those customers and some decisions solely reflect their bottom line. They would like those bottom line-based decisions fly under the radar but collect credit for when they are responsive to their customers. Ain't gonna fly with me. That's why I happily shop at my collective food co-op or at the local farmer's market when I can't grow it myself. WF is my choice only when I need to select a traditional grocer for shopping.
proverbialwisdom
(4,959 posts)Last edited Mon Sep 17, 2012, 03:28 PM - Edit history (1)
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Image from http://www.facebook.com/GMOFreeUSA
Nihil
(13,508 posts)I like both the organic food one here and the GMO one downthread - thanks for posting them!
efhmc
(14,709 posts)Natural Food stores is what we called them then. There were a couple in large cities in Texas. "Whole Foods Market was founded in Austin, Texas, when four local businesspeople decided the natural foods industry was ready for a supermarket format. Our founders were John Mackey and Renee Lawson Hardy, owners of Safer Way Natural Foods, and Craig Weller and Mark Skiles, owners of Clarksville Natural Grocery. The original Whole Foods Market opened in 1980 with a staff of only 19 people. It was an immediate success. At the time, there were less than half a dozen natural food supermarkets in the United States. We have grown by leaps and bounds since our first store opened."
So of course, they did not begin the organic food movement but they were certainly there early. I shopped at WF when I was in Austin and at Ye Seekers when I was in Houston. Yes , they took advantage of a trend and became corporate but they were there at the beginning.
KansDem
(28,498 posts)I want to know what's in the food I eat so I can make informed choices!
After almost six decades of having crap shoved at us with "Oh, you'll like this!" and "You'll really, really want to try this!", I no longer believe "The Corporation" has our best interests at heart.
most dangerous word in the world today.....
'We're a multi national corporation and we're here to make your life easier'
KansDem
(28,498 posts)Ronald Reagan redux...
Tumbulu
(6,267 posts)on this, so wonderful, no matter how late they came to the party.
olddad56
(5,732 posts)Last edited Sat Sep 15, 2012, 04:31 PM - Edit history (1)
to represent the people who elected them. If the politicians we elect weren't corrupted by corporate money, we wouldn't need to put issues like this to a vote of the people. Why are the elected politicians unable to agree, and pass legislation on something as basic as a persons right to know what they are buying to put in their body.
In an uncorrupted political system, the elected officials would do the job that they were elected to do, and we wouldn't need propositions. Now we have gotten in a situation that the propositions are are corrupted by corporate money. The Koch brothers just dumped 4 million dollars into a PAC to help pass prop 32 in California. Prop 32 is a ballot measure to limit labor unions the political activity of labor unions. Who is going to limit the political activity of the Koch Bros?
Corporate Fascism is the inevitable destination, and we are well into the journey.
Le Taz Hot
(22,271 posts)This is my issue this election year -- the "Yes on 37"campaign. Now I know where I can do my next canvassing.
If California can get this through despite $25 million so far being poured into the "No on 37" campaign by Monsanto, DuPont, ConAgra and others, the rest of the country, especially the Midwest where the bulk of the GMO's are being grown, will maybe follow suit.
proverbialwisdom
(4,959 posts)bananas
(27,509 posts)TexasBushwhacker
(20,044 posts)They can add what they call Lean Finely Textured Beef (LFTB) aka Pink Slime to ground beef without labeling. It can be in products intended for human consumption, up to 15% by weight. It's basically whatever they sweep up from the slaughterhouse floor, ground up, centrifruged and treated with ammonia to disinfect it. It used to be only used in pet food, but was approved for human consumption during the GW Bush administration.
roody
(10,849 posts)Cha
(295,926 posts)I only shop at Natural Foods stores after retiring from one in New York in 2010. Our store and others like it sell products that have a big Slash though GMO.
But, people who shop at mainstream grocery stores don't have that advantage. If any State can do this..it's California! Where I got into health food in the '70s.