It's been a hot topic with us (Linda Ray Research), too. This
acquisition of Solgar by Monsanto came to my attention several months
ago now, and the report was (I don't recall the name of the
publication now), that the transaction was (or was expected to be) a
done deal.
Since the day I discovered that, I have ceased to purchase
anything which carries the name Solgar. Of course, my associates have
been advised accordingly. I will not even waste suspicion on any
Solgar/Monsanto/GE affiliate-- Simply cease to purchase, immediately and
forever.
I am also taking note of which Health Food stores continue to
carry Solgar products. I'll be talking to a Wild Oats manager in my area
later today-- Actually, I've been scoping out, so to speak, different HF
store owners recently about the whole GE thing. Amazing how uninformed
some of them are(!?!). It's an interesting thing to ask some of the
wait-and-seers out there: What will it take for you to see? And who must
that happen to?
I do business with the informed ones. The uninformed, well
intentioned as they may be, I see as hazardous to our health.
Regards,
Linda Ray, Founder
Linda Ray Research
Email LINDARAY@worldnet.att.net
********************************************************************
Douglas M. Hinds wrote:
>
> What do you think of this? It's been such a hot topic here I figured at
> least some of you would be interested.
Subject:
[Fwd: Provender-Monsanto & Solgar]
Date:
Fri, 28 Aug 1998 12:24:41 -0600
From:
kelly wiseman <bozocoop@imt.net>
Reply-To:
bozocoop@imt.net
To:
cgin <CGIN-list@cgin.org>
Subject:
Provender-Monsanto & Solgar
Date:
Wed, 26 Aug 1998 15:28:00 EDT
From:
SRCM1@aol.com
To:
acfs@mind.net, caroleecolter@juno.com,
coopgrocer@eurekanet.com, foodcoop@olympus.com,
oceana@efn.org, sundance@efn.org, bozocoop@imt.net,
admin@foodfrontco-op.com,
central@seanet.com, cooshead@juno.com, jnherm@accessone.com,
scott@shn.net,
Thedowneys@aol.com, FoodCoop@aol.com, binbin@sonic.net,
cheryl@goodfoodstore.com,
dannywells@dannywells.com, Keaton@moscow.com,
sjprial@hotmail.com,
102337.1021@compuserve.com, FSHealth@aol.com, gnolan@well.com,
KAMREH@norrows.com, mktplace@earthlink.net, redbarn@efn.org,
helen@realgoods.com,
tereo@worldnet.att.net, kz@tidepool.com, OasisMktg@aol.com,
rmft@cyberport.net,
yount@csf.colorado.edu, LaughingW@aol.com,
peoples@teleport.com, slnet@slnet.com
Hello, fellow Provender members! My name is Melissa Minton. I am the
General
Manager for Santa Rosa Community Market. I am writing with regards to
the
planned acquisition of Solgar Vitamin and Herb Company with American
Home
Products; soon to be Monsanto. We are deeply distressed here! We cannot
with
good faith continue to carry Solgar knowing that our money is going to
fund
Monsanto's new Genetic Experiment at the cost of humans and the
environment
and who knows what else. This comes at a time when we are currently
trying to
educate our customers on the possible effects of genetic engineering.
We are
planning to set up informational tables in our store to let our
customers know
why we may be discontinuing Solgar. We will also provide them with a
form
letter (see below) to send themselves. We, as a business, are also
sending a
letter to inform Mr. Skolnick that we will discontinue their products if
they
are acquired by Monsanto. I am including both letters below and ask that
you
to help tell Solgar that Monsanto is not the way to go with their
company.
Thanks for listening. If you have any questions or comments please let
me have
'em.
Thanks- Melissa
(consumer letter)
Solgar Vitamin and Herb Company, Inc.
500 Willow Tree Rd.
Leonia, NJ 07605
Dear Rand Skolnick,
As a consumer of your Solgar products, I am deeply concerned about the
acquisition of your company by American Home Products/Monsanto. These
companies are creating a new force in the field of biotechnology and
have the
potential of threatening the health and well-being of the Earth.
Monsanto has a history of making false claims about their products such
as
DDT, PCB, rBST, and many other genetically manipulated organisms which
have
proven to be detrimental to the consumer. Serious health and
environmental
consequences have resulted from modifying the genetic structure of
plants,
animals and microorganisms. I feel that due to the potential dangers
associated with genetic engineering, a moratorium on the use of this
technology should be implemented until further discussion and testing
are
conducted.
I do not wish to support companies such as Monsanto. Therefore, if
American
Home Products/Monsanto buys your company I may be forced to stop
purchasing
Solgar products. I feel that to preserve the reputation of your company,
the
deal should not be completed. I hope that you will consider the voice of
the
people that helped to make Solgar the company it is today, and not
continue to
pursue the acquisition of your company by American Home
Products/Monsanto.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Sincerely,
Name:
Address:
Phone:
(company letter)
Solgar Vitamin and Herb Company, Inc.
500 Willow Tree Rd.
Leonia, NJ 07605
August 25, 1998
Dear Rand Skolnick;
I am writing on behalf of Santa Rosa Community Market. We are deeply
concerned about the possible acquisition of Solgar by American Home
Products/Monsanto. We, the natural foods industry, have fought the
effects of
Monsanto business for decades. Their constant claims of greatness about
products such as DDT, PCB, rBST, and other genetically manipulated
organisms
have been severely detrimental to consumers and the environment.
The merger of American Home Products and Monsanto has created an even
greater force in the field of biotechnology. Due to the lack of
mandatory
testing and long-term studies, we feel this may be a serious threat to
the
ecosystem. Already serious health and environmental consequences have
resulted
from the modification of the genetic structure in plants, animals, and
microorganisms. We feel that due to the potential dangers associated
with
genetic engineering, a moratorium on the use of this technology should
be
implemented until further discussion and testing are conducted.
We ethically and philosophically cannot condone the actions of Monsanto
and
their subdivisions. Unfortunately, if the deal between Solgar and
American
Home Products/Monsanto is finalized, we will no longer be carrying the
Solgar
label in our store. We are also urging fellow retailers to do the same.
We
have always considered Solgar a leader in herb and supplement
manufacturing
and are deeply disappointed in the possibility of this merger. I hope
that you
will take all this into consideration before finalizing any deal with
American
Home Products/Monsanto.
Sincerely,
Melissa Minton
General Manager
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