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Dr. Mercola
April 01 2008
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Which Giant Corporation Owns Your Favorite Organic Food Brand?

organic, farm, big businessDid you know that Boca is owned by Kraft? That Naked Juice is completely controlled by Pepsi? That General Mills runs Cascadian Farm and Muir Glen?

This fascinating chart (to view it click the source link below) by Phil Howard, an assistant professor of Community, Agriculture, and Recreation and Resource studies at Michigan State University, will show you where your money really goes when you buy that name-brand “organic” snack -- and you can bet that if it’s made by Kraft, it’s probably not coming from a small family farm, either.

Dr. MercolaDr. Mercola's Comments:
For those of you who still believed that your Horizon organic milk, your Kashi crackers or your Odwalla green drink was being churned out by a small farm or mom-and-pop shop nestled in a pristine valley, well I’m sorry to burst your bubble.

The reality is that many of the same corporations that make the biggest junk food offenders -- soda, potato chips, sugary cereals, candy, etc. -- are also behind many of the most well-known organic food brands. So how does a soda company, for instance, go from pushing corn syrup-laden “liquid candy” to marketing “all-natural” health drinks with a vision to “nourish people everywhere with the ineffably honest art and rhythm of nature’s offerings” (as it says on Odwalla’s Web site)?

Either they had an epiphany, and suddenly wanted to stop making products that contribute to many people’s early departures from this planet, or they saw the potential to make some money.

The latter option, of course, gets my vote.

Is Big-Business’ Involvement in Organic a Good or Bad Thing?

Depending on whether you view the glass as half-full or half-empty, this can be viewed in two ways:

1. People are speaking with their pocketbooks and demanding healthier food choices, and America’s largest corporations are responding.

2. America’s largest corporations, eager to gain market share in the natural foods movement, have begun mass-producing “organic” foods, and as a result are slowly deteriorating the meaning and health benefits upon which the organic label was founded.

In reality, there’s a bit of truth to both of these views. With the involvement of large corporations, organic food has turned into a $16-billion business, with sales growing by as much as 20 percent per year. What this means for a lot of America is access to more organic foods, likely at lower prices.

Large corporations also have big advertising budgets, which means the idea of eating foods free from pesticides, genetically modified ingredients and raised in sustainable, humane ways is getting a lot of publicity whereas just a couple of decades ago it was next to unheard of.

Phil Howard, an assistant professor of Community, Agriculture, and Recreation and Resource studies at Michigan State University, put together the revealing chart discussed above. He’s also behind many other graphics that show just how the organic label is being expanded by corporations. As of January 2008, for instance, this chart from Howard shows you the massive expansion of popular food lines coming out with their own organic versions.


 

But there is a downside, and a major one at that. When big corporations dip their hands into a project, they are looking to maximize their profits by turning out the largest amount of product for the least expense. If this means sacrificing some ethics and skimping on some quality, that is often exactly what is done.

As a result, you now have to be very wary when you see the term “organic,” as it doesn’t always mean that the food is any better for you or the environment. For example:
There’s Something Even Better Than Organic

It’s sad to say but the organic label has become virtually meaningless as a sign of quality. In seeking out food that is truly grown the way nature intended, you are therefore far better off seeking local producers.

These are the people who are truly still running small farms, where you can find grass-fed beef that is truly grass-fed (and not finished on grains in the last months) and produce that is truly fresh, not just coated in wax to make it appear that way.

Depending on where you live, finding a local farmer or food coop may seem unrealistic, but just as demand drove the rise of organic, it is driving the demand for locally grown foods. You can peruse this list of sustainable agriculture options to find like-minded people in your area who will know how you can connect with local food producers. Also be sure to take advantage of farmer’s markets and roadside stands as the summer approaches.

As Phil Howard’s chart has revealed, you just never know who is behind even your “healthy” food choices, that is, unless you meet them face-to-face. So if you’re concerned about where your food is coming from, avoid the processed organic junk foods at your supermarket, and instead support the farmers that are still producing real health food.
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Community Comments ( 62 )
 Comment on this Article
  
  
amysnaturals
 [ Joined on 05/07 ] [ Posted on April 1, 2008 ]
30 Points        
   
 
Apprentice User

I'll most likely not recieve votes on this one, but I think we all need a reality check.  I live in a rural area; I garden w/o pesticides, I hang my laundry out to dry, we use a woodstove so as to not drain more electricity than nessessary, and other ways to be green.  However, when you live 90 miles from the nearest city, the only options you have is a couple small grocery store.  The very few items that are sold as organic are rape on the pocketbook.  Forgive my strong language, but it is true.  We are a struggling middle class American family, barely scraping money together to have gas for my husband to work out of state.  Why out of state?  Because we cannot make a living on $14 an hour; which happens to be a great wage in Lakeview.  So these big companies are making organic?  If they are certified, where is the problem?  They are trying to make it affordable for the little guys like our family who cannot afford to pay the outragious prices elsewhere.  I've mentioned in a comment on farmers markets, which I sold at.  It is a government approval you need to be certified, and as a stay at home mom, I cannot afford to pay the outragous fees to be "certified organic".  You go through soil testing; There has to be proof there was no chemicals in the last seven years to be approved.  I pull my weeds by hand; yes, I have dirty fingers, and have to deal with earwigs in my corn and lettuce, but they wash away.  I can only market my items as naturally grown; same with our cows that we sell the meat each year.  In essense, your damned if you do and damned if you don't.  Trying to eek out a living in this day and age where I have to pay $3.57 a gallon for gas is tough at best.  I live 12 1/2 miles from town, so bike riding is out of the question.  When are we going to have compassion for those of us who try and are shot down for doing so?  In the words of John Stossel, "Give me a break"!  My article is not intended to offend, just point out the little guys perspective.

 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
LadyPam
 		[ Joined on 02/08 ]  [ Posted on April 2, 2008]
4 Points        
   
Apprentice User
  Mercola

I know what you mean, Amy. I live IN a mid-sized town right by a main airport, and wages are low. $14/hour? $14 buys as much in the US as £14 does for us in the UK. I can only dream of earning that much until I qualify as a nutritionist! $3.57 a gallon for gas?? You're making me cry! It costs more like $9 A GALLON here! Bus fare 2 miles into town & back is around $6; I often walk it. We only have the supermarkets for organic food. My favourite biodynamic farm & shop is 12 miles away and VERY expensive. They sell their own but also import, plus excess from the local school (the children grow it organically & sell to parents; wish I could afford to send my daughter there).

Last week someone lent me a car and I went. Their raw milk is now £1($2) a pint, grass-fed stewing beef is £10 a kilo (ca $10 a pound). I blew over half a week's food budget there: £20 ($40) on 2 day's food and 4pts raw milk. They're co-operatively owned and not making big profits but price to cover their costs, and some of the work is done cheap by apprentices keen to learn biodynamic methods. It's just not economical. As I have to make a living for my daughter and me all by myself, we can not live on their food unless I make double national average wages and move to their village (= my dream).

Growing my own proved even more expensive (small scale) and I've mostly given that up now.

So I stick with the stupor-markets and try to find the least toxic options.

BUT be warned: with goverment organic certification, remember that giant corporations and government (agency) employees are not above bribery "...in the same way that the sea is not above the sky." (Douglas Adams, The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy)
Mercola
  
amysnaturals
 		[ Joined on 05/07 ]  [ Posted on April 3, 2008]
       
   
Apprentice User
  Mercola

LadyPam,

Thank you so much for your support and sympathy.  When I read what you pay, it humbled me and I got tears in my eyes for your situation.  My question to the world, not just the USA government, would be "How are we expected to survive?" and what are you willing to change to make it happen.  Arg.  We all have the same battle worldwide, and I appreciate you letting me know what life is like in a different country. God Bless You, and I hope you get the opportunity to move to the village you spoke of.
  
  
Charisse
 [ Joined on 10/07 ] [ Posted on March 18, 2008 ]
18 Points        
   
 
Apprentice User
remember, anything processed has risk....so beware

I recently looked at a brand of corn chip "made with organic corn"....but the soybean oil was "not non-GMO"...(was all could get out of the company).....so difficult!

I'm not going to make my own corn chips, so I have to read the labels and contact the company......

I've learned that just because it's in a health food store/health food section of a grocery store, DOESN"T mean that it

a) is good for you
b) is organic
c)is non GMO

most processed stuff isn't healthful, organic or not...

I just wish there was a website which gave info on all the "Health" brands as far as a, b, & c  above
 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
mama bear
 		[ Joined on 06/06 ]  [ Posted on March 18, 2008]
2 Points        
   
Apprentice User
  Mercola
Charisse

You are so onto something!  We need better info.  It is a great ideal to eat whole foods all the time.  But realistically with out busy lifestyles, it is often unrealistic.  There are days, with sports commitments, that my children are gone from home 12+ hours so we need wholesome convenience foods that won't spoil and don't need heating.  I avoid fast food as much as possible. 
Mercola
  
Aaltrude
 		[ Joined on 04/07 ]  [ Posted on March 18, 2008]
12 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola
I noticed a brand of organic, cheese flavoured corn chips, certified in Austtralia, in an organic store in a large New Zealand city, that stated on the packet "NO added MSG". This plus the cheese flavouring didn't ring true for me so I investigated further and sure enough there were ingredients listed on the packet, such as hydrolysed vegetable protein, that indicated there was definitely MSG in the chips.
Mercola
  
sobber
 		[ Joined on 10/07 ]  [ Posted on April 1, 2008]
13 Points        
   
This user is BELOW novice level and all their comments need to be reviewed with great caution.
  Mercola

even organic corn is not good for anybody
Mercola
  
alm260
 		[ Joined on 06/06 ]  [ Posted on April 1, 2008]
4 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola

My friend and I were just commenting on this same thing... how many food items our local co-op and health food shoppe sells that has canola oil in it and they think it's just fine.  Anything processed is going to need some way to keep it from going rancid so they add all these terrible oils in it and even "health concious" people eat too much of it.

It's time to get back to raw foods.
Mercola
  
Islander
 		[ Joined on 03/07 ]  [ Posted on April 1, 2008]
3 Points        
   
Moderator User
  Mercola

Sobber, that's useful information. But then can anyone explain how the mesoAmericans thrived on maize (and still do)?
Mercola
  
LadyPam
 		[ Joined on 02/08 ]  [ Posted on April 2, 2008]
3 Points        
   
Apprentice User
  Mercola

Charisse, shops don't sell things because they're good for us, they sell them if they think we will BUY them.  Don't blame them; when I did a course on starting a business we were warned that 90% of all new businesses and 99% of IDEALISTIC businesses fail within the first year. Therefore, the stuff in the health food sections (in UK it's labelled 'healthy choice') is not there because the shop owner wants to improve customers' health but because he knows there enough customers who will buy it.

I do have to say: what are you doing buying corn chips anyway? Dr Mercola says corn is bad - he may be wrong but chips, high temperature fried (even if they're 'baked') are definitely not part of a healthy diet.

Mercola
  
mrose
 		[ Joined on 09/06 ]  [ Posted on April 2, 2008]
1 Points        
   
Novice User
  Mercola

Islander:   your question to Sobber:  "Sobber, that's useful information. But then can anyone explain how the mesoAmericans thrived on maize (and still do)?"

The answer is because they soaked their corn before eating - see the Weston Price Foundation and/or Sally Fallon's book Nourishing Traditions.   During the dust bowl when many Americans were dying of (scurvey, I think - don't quote me) becuase of their diet of mainly corn, the Mexicans and Indians did not have that ailment, because the soaking process eliminated the phytate in the corn, as does soaking other grains eliminate that substance.   I think, and again don't quote me, the eliminate of phytates made the nutrients in the corn absorbable.  
Mercola
  
Gazer
 		[ Joined on 03/08 ]  [ Posted on April 6, 2008]
3 Points        
   
Novice User
  Mercola

Pretty soon,they'll be marketing organic doughnuts and cupcakes.  Doesn't mean they're good for you.
  
  
rajsanand
 [ Joined on 11/07 ] [ Posted on April 1, 2008 ]
15 Points        
   
 
Novice User

One big drawback everyone is missing.

There companies have a an evil track record. They have always put their profits ahead of our health and lives.

It is like, lets say, a person has been trying to poison you(by poisoning ur food), you find out, you file a case, he gets convicted, but is let off Scott free, by bribing the judges.

Then after a few years you hire him as your cook. Would you do that, especially when you have a choice of other cooks.

All I am trying to say it is plain stupid to trust the companies that have never thought twice to harm our health or even kill us to maximize profits.

Right now we have our local farmer giving us good trust worthy organic food. IF we stop buying from him he is going to go out of business.

If support these companies, they will change the meaning of the word organic to suit their pockets and convenience, or to increase shelf life of their products. For example the case of irradiated almonds being labeled raw in California.

Your local farmer or most of the organic food companies have a passion for organic food and delivering healthy foods.

The evil companies are just being smart and trying to grab a market share, in future we will never be able to trust them totally(atleast I will not). They might adulterate their food with non-organic contents, and not declare it.

In India coke and pepsi had more than the permitted levels of pesticides in their drinks. A test by a govt agency caught them or else they would have gotten away with it. We would have to be constantly watching them.

If we support them we will literally handing over this organic food market over to these thieving corporations whom we cannot trust.

The current suppliers and our local farmers and co-ops have striven so hard and compromised on their profits to give us organic food when no was there. I think it will be unfair to them, if we start buying from these corporations, especially when we can never trust them. We are digging our own graves here.

 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
moebears
 		[ Joined on 06/06 ]  [ Posted on April 1, 2008]
7 Points        
   
Novice User
  Mercola

I agree.  It's the large corporations who have gone into third world countries and driven the small family farmer out.  Watch the movie "Future of our Food".
Mercola
  
Julia Owens
 		[ Joined on 12/06 ]  [ Posted on April 2, 2008]