Whole Foods Market, a supporter of the Keep Nature Natural campaign (which seeks to scare the public into rejecting genetically improved food), has begun to stock Cheerios and Jif peanut butter, products which contain genetically improved ingredients. A spokesman for the chain says it is attempting to meet customer demand and become “a one-stop shopping store for our customers.” (“Mainstream supermarkets try catering to health conscious,” Associated Press, 7/27/00)
It all makes sense if one understands that organic marketers know scare campaigns will drive customers to their stores (See Jim Slama article in Organic Times), but also recognize that in order to keep them there, they need to offer the conventional products that people want.
