Organic Shmorganic?

[Guest guest]

I've been following the Organic food thread here. I do buy organic for the

most part, and I belong to the Organic Consumer's Association. I knew that

most of the 'natural' and 'organic' foods that one finds in large grocery

chains were owned by big companies, but I was surprised by some of the

owmers listed below (from the e-newsletter of the OCA.)

I guess my suggestion would be to buy from local co-ops who get their

products from trusted sources. (I know! a lot of time to spend when we don't

have a lot in our busy lives...)

Best,

-------------------

A MOUTHFUL OF MONEY: THE CORPORATE TAKEOVER OF ORGANIC FOODS

Kraft Foods bought small natural cereals producer Back to Nature in

2004. The company is a subsidiary of Altria Group, which also owns

Companies Inc., one of the largest cigarette makers in the world.

Kraft also owns Boca Burger Inc.

Odwalla Inc., which produces natural and organic fruit juices, was purchased

by Coca-Cola in 2001.

Dean Foods Co., the largest dairy company in the U.S., bought out Horizon

Organic in 2003, in addition to Silk soymilk and White Wave tofu.

Kellogg's has acquired several natural and organic brands: Kashi Cereal and

Morningstar Farms.

General Mills purchased Cascadian Farm, in 2000. The brand consists of items

such as frozen fruit, vegetables, granola bars and fruit spreads. General

Mills also bought out Muir Glen, which produces ketchup, tomato sauce, and

salsa.

Unilever bought out Ben & Jerry's for $326 million.

Colgate-Palmolive Co. is purchasing Tom's of Maine, which specializes in

natural oral and personal care products.

Learn more: http://www.organicconsumers.org/sos.cfm

[Guest guest]

I agree it's best to buy locally, but a silver lining to the big

corporate buy outs of organic companies is that hopefully these

practices are becoming mainstream. In the end, this would be better

for the environment and might bring costs down.

>

> I've been following the Organic food thread here. I do buy organic

for the

> most part, and I belong to the Organic Consumer's Association. I

knew that

> most of the 'natural' and 'organic' foods that one finds in large

grocery

> chains were owned by big companies, but I was surprised by some of

the

> owmers listed below (from the e-newsletter of the OCA.)

>

> I guess my suggestion would be to buy from local co-ops who get

their

> products from trusted sources. (I know! a lot of time to spend

when we don't

> have a lot in our busy lives...)

>

> Best,

>

>

> -------------------

> A MOUTHFUL OF MONEY: THE CORPORATE TAKEOVER OF ORGANIC FOODS

>

> Kraft Foods bought small natural cereals producer Back to Nature in

> 2004. The company is a subsidiary of Altria Group, which also owns

> Companies Inc., one of the largest cigarette makers in the

world.

> Kraft also owns Boca Burger Inc.

>

> Odwalla Inc., which produces natural and organic fruit juices, was

purchased

> by Coca-Cola in 2001.

>

> Dean Foods Co., the largest dairy company in the U.S., bought out

Horizon

> Organic in 2003, in addition to Silk soymilk and White Wave tofu.

>

> Kellogg's has acquired several natural and organic brands: Kashi

Cereal and

> Morningstar Farms.

>

> General Mills purchased Cascadian Farm, in 2000. The brand

consists of items

> such as frozen fruit, vegetables, granola bars and fruit spreads.

General

> Mills also bought out Muir Glen, which produces ketchup, tomato

sauce, and

> salsa.

>

> Unilever bought out Ben & Jerry's for $326 million.

>

> Colgate-Palmolive Co. is purchasing Tom's of Maine, which

specializes in

> natural oral and personal care products.

> Learn more: http://www.organicconsumers.org/sos.cfm

>