Wal-Mart Becomes Player in Organic Food Market - Can this be a Good Thing?

Category: Diet and Nutrition

Wal-Mart, already a source of contention among many in the business world, is now embarking on a major inroad in the organic food industry. The giant retailer plans to double its offering of organic products, including dairy, meats, produce and dry goods. While this may mean lower prices for consumers, it is not welcomed news for many agricultural outfits in America. Privately owned organic farms may be driven out of business due to Wal-Mart's history of negotiating lower prices with suppliers. Furthermore, the bulk of Wal-Mart's goods come from China where everything is less expensive to produce, leaving American companies to suffer.

While consumers may like the low prices, do they come at the cost of poorer quality? In fact, large food manufacturers who have entered the organic market have already started importing many of food products, like Silk Soy Milk (made by Dean Foods) which imports most of its soybeans from China and Brazil. Long distance transport equals reduced nutrient profile, as degradation of vitamins and phytochemicals continues to occur from the time of harvest. So while the product may be organic, is it healthier? Can we really trust what is coming out of foreign countries, where the organic standards are not set by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)? Also these large corporations like Kraft and General Mills which have their own organic divisions (Boca Burgers and Cascadian Farms, respectively) are trying to change the standards for organic products in this country. They have already successfully attached a rider to the 2006 Agricultural Appropriations Bill that will allow certain synthetic food substances in the preparation, processing, and packaging of organic foods.

When Wal-Mart enters the picture of any industry, change comes and it looks like for the organic marketplace, the change will not benefit the health of consumers, but instead the health of this superstore's bottom line. The best thing consumers can do is support local organic agriculture. Buy directly from Community Supported Agriculture and get produce that comes out of the ground that day. When shopping at grocery stores, buy organic products from farms that are close to your area and avoid products that require long distance travel.

Posted by Dr. Jennifer Stagg on January 19, 2014 10:00 AM