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At the end of January the United States Department of Agriculture angered organic food growers and advocates by announcing it would no longer seek to restrict the planting of Genetically Engineered alfalfa. The Biotechnology Industry Organization praised the decision. Shortly thereafter, Whole Foods Inc., a major power player in the organic foods movement, dealt a bigger blow to its community. It announced it would not fight against GE alfalfa. Whole Foods Market, Organic Valley, and Stoneyfield Farms are now promoting what Whole Foods called “co-existence” between Genetically Engineered and organic crops. They argue that the fight for purity has been lost, and now they will negotiate for better regulation of GE crops to limit contamination of organic foods. Many anti-GE, organic advocacy groups are sharply critical of this shift. Ronnie Cummings, National Director of the Organic Consumers Association wrote a scathing critique of what he calls “the Organic elite.” Cummings accused Whole Foods and other giant retailers of putting profits before principles. About 2/3 of the foods Whole Foods sells is labeled “natural” but most of these foods contain some ingredients from genetically engineered foods. In the last week the schism between advocacy groups and the food industry giant has grown.

GUEST: Ronnie Cummings, National Director of the Organic Consumers Association

Find out more at www.organicconsumers.org.