The Organic Food Industry Is The Pinnacle Of White Privilege

[HuckleB]

http://modernliberals.com/organic-food-industry-pinnacle-white-privilege/

"Once upon a time, I got partially sucked into the organic food industry’s corporate campaign against companies like Dow, Syngenta and their favorite target: Monsanto. Their advertising and social media campaigns are really appealing, and I began to buy into some of the industry’s propaganda because so many of my liberal (and some conservative) friends got caught up in the March Against Monsanto hyperbole and pseudoscience.

One of the usual shrill retorts from people who believe the organic food industry’s spin is “OMG, DO SOME RESEARCH!!! MONSANTAN AND GMOS ARE KILLING US ALL!!!” After I wrote my first couple of mildly anti-GMO articles, I was politely urged to do some fact-checking by individuals who understand science better than I did at the time – which I went on to do.

The organic food industry, led by the likes of GMO Free USA and fear campaigns like that of Vani Hari (aka Food Babe) or David Avocado Wolfe have been fierce lobbyists for ridiculously-priced foods which put these products well outside the financial means of poorer Americans. These individuals aren’t trying to help Americans eat better. They are all about spreading fear in people who don’t understand science, and have the money to buy products from the Amazon affiliate links these grifters receive a cut of the sales from.

...

But please make your choices based on reason instead of fear. Don’t waste your money on the claims of industry charlatans like Food Babe or snake oil salesmen like David Avocado Wolfe. They make their riches by preying on the good intentions of individuals who rightly distrust corporations – all while representing other corporate interests themselves."

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One of the greatest marketing scams of all-time is the "Organic" label.

[Mika]

1. How about this... Bringing good paying jobs back so all can afford choices.

White privelege is corporate privelege.

[HuckleB]

3. "Choices."

We need better jobs, indeed. That doesn't mean corporate marketing nonsense shouldn't be recognized for what it is.

[Vilis Veritas]

2. According to my mom's oncologist the real problem

is heavy metals and pesticides and they exist in both conventional and organic.

[HuckleB]

8. I'm not sure how to read this post.

[Shankapotomus]

10. I usually start at the subjectline and work my way down

If I get stuck on a word I ask a teacher.

[HuckleB]

12. How are those items "the real problem."

[Daemonaquila]

4. "Organic" isn't a scam, but lots of scammers have jumped on the opportunity.

There is certainly a growing industry in anti-scientific food fear led by Vani Hari and other snake oil salesmen.

However, organic food is no marketing scam. At its base, it's about growing food sustainably, maintaining crop diversity, avoiding ever increasing amounts of chemical tinkering that is harming the environment, and feeding people locally. Those are all really great ideals.

Short of going to a small, local "u pick it" farm or their stand at a farmer's market, or growing them yourself, you literally can not get a decent strawberry. Most of the tomatoes and other soft fruits at the grocery store are from a couple genetic lines that look pretty after transportation and taste like nothing. Entire crops are in danger of being wiped out by a disease due to lack of biodiversity. Saying that is not anti-science. It's trying to save the quality of crops, small farmers, soil, water, bugs, etc.

The problem isn't a marketing trend that puts organic food out of the reach of many people. The problem is factory farming that produces slightly cheaper, inferior products that still barely trickle into supermarkets where poor folks can access them, and even then usually only in rough condition.

[Mika]

5. +1000+

[HuckleB]

7. What about that example of the very propaganda in question do you like?

And why do buy into it? PS: See post 6.

[HuckleB]

6. All of those claims are part of the marketing scam.

Last edited Wed Mar 9, 2016, 05:08 PM - Edit history (1)

You gave us a great example of just how vacant the whole routine really is, and the need for it to demonize its competition is really ridiculous.

http://groundedparents.com/2014/12/19/why-this-mom-boycotts-organic-and-will-never-shop-at-whole-foods/

http://www.realclearscience.com/blog/2014/06/the_lies_that_whole_foods_tells_108701.html

http://gawker.com/5940461/science-suggests-that-organic-food-is-largely-a-sham

http://www.science20.com/agricultural_realism/six_reasons_organic_not_most_environmentally_friendly_way_farm-110209

http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/09/10/is-organic-food-worth-the-expense/the-ecological-case-against-organic-farming

Don't be taken in any longer. You can fight back against the bad propaganda. Science is your friend.

[progressoid]

9. The Food Babe is the queen of hucksters.

People are finally starting to wake up to her scam.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3052566/Food-Babe-blogger-Vani-Hari-taking-heat-health-science.html

http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_27984079/food-babe-blogger-vani-hari-taking-heat-over

http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2015/03/17/vani-hari-a-k-a-the-food-babe-responds-to-the-new-york-times-ineptly-as-usual/

[HuckleB]

11. 14 FACTS THE ORGANIC INDUSTRY DOESN’T WANT YOU TO KNOW

http://dontwastethecrumbs.com/2015/03/14-facts-the-organic-industry-doesnt-want-you-to-know/