Wal-Mart to Sell Genetically Engineered Corn; We Suffer

The Chicago Tribune reported last week that Wal-Mart has decided to sell genetically engineered fresh sweet corn produced by Monsanto, despite protestations from a host of consumer watchdog groups.

The corn will not carry any labels declaring it genetically engineered, so consumers will not know if they are buying and eating Monsanto's corn that has been built to survive application of a Monsanto herbicide.

My translation: Farmer sprays herbicide, everything is killed except the corn. Our kids eat the corn. Our water supply is inundated with herbicide run-off. We all suffer.

From the Tribune:

"As the Midwest crunches into sweet corn season, a new type will be appearing on grocery store shelves — even though shoppers have no way to recognize it.

"It's genetically modified sweet corn from the biotech giant Monsanto, engineered to resist a common herbicide and certain pests.

"The arrival of the crop's first harvest has alarmed consumer groups and activists who say genetically modified foods may pose environmental and health risks. In recent months they have urged major retailers to avoid Monsanto's sweet corn, prompting Whole Foods, Trader Joe's and General Mills to pledge not to sell or use it.

"But this week the world's largest retailer, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., confirmed to the Tribune that it would not restrict sales of the genetically modified corn in its stores."

I firmly believe that we all have the right to know if our food is genetically engineered, which is the point of Proposition 37, which will appear on the ballot in California this November.

Big Food and Big Chemical are starting to pour money into the fight against Prop 37. Kellogg's, Coca-Cola and every other producer of conventional packaged and processed food do not want the public to know that the majority of ingredients in their corn- and soy-dominated products are from genetically engineered crops.

As I've written before, the passing of Prop 37 could signal a fundamental change in this country's food supply. If you live in California, make sure to vote "yes." If you know someone who lives in California, make sure they vote "yes."

Click here and here to read the Chicago Tribune coverage of Wal-Mart's decision.
Click here to visit the California Right to Know website and click here to visit the California Right to Know page on Facebook.