Cornucopia Institute: Wal-Mart Charged with Selling Nonorganic Food as Organic:
"“Our management and our employees know what organic means,” said Lindy Bannister, General Manager at The Wedge Cooperative in Minneapolis, Minnesota. “If Wal-Mart intends to get into organics, they can’t be allowed to misidentify ‘natural’ foods as organic to unsuspecting consumers.” The Wedge, the largest single store member-owned food cooperative in the nation, was one of the first retailers to go through the USDA organic certification process.
“One can question whether Wal-Mart has the management and staff expertise necessary to fully understand organics and the marketing requirements essential to selling organic food,” observed Kastel. “At this point, it seems they are attracted by the profits generated from the booming organic food sector but are not fully invested in organic integrity. Given their size, market power, and market clout, this is very troubling.”"
Attracted by profits? Wal-Mart? They aren't in this for the greater health of the American consumer?
Somehow I don't see their organic expertise being akin with Greenstar Co-op or similar. If they don't even know the difference between organic and conventional, it's rather scary. How many years does it take for transitional status to change, Wal-Mart? You don't know, do you? This is just a money-related gimmick for you, isn't it?
Looking to "roll back" organic standards and definitions, are you, Wal-Mart? No thanks, food safety and our health are important to some of us.
