Vegan Forum

Canada is suppose to be a democratic country, but sometimes I think that it is run more like a corporate dictatorship. This seems particularly true in the food industry.

According to www.cban.ca, Loblaws, Sobeys and A&P/Dominion control 78% of Ontario's food retail market. Much of the shelf space in these stores are stocked with food products that contain ingredients manufactured from genetically modified crops. Much of the shelf space are also stocked with food shipped from far-away places even though the same item is available right here in Ontario. Powerful corporations seem to be dictating our diet to us , but I believe that the consumer has a lot of power as well if we use it.


Here are some things that consumers can do:


Patronize vegan-friendly establishments. They need our business if we are to have a choice.

Educate others, like sharing info on this website.

Purchase local food. Fewer "food miles" means less greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution.

Visit the farmers' market. They don't sell genetically engineered fruits and vegetables.

Buy organic. Pesticides harm our soil, water systems, beneficial insects and wildlife.

I agree with some of your points HOWEVER i strongly feel "genetic engineered plants" can help bring veganism about in FULL FASHION... feeding the world's hungry w/o exploiting animals.

There are safe ways to genetically select plant traits and create/establish a "seed/stock-plant" etc (or bring new plants here that maybe are not here now however are elsewhere around the universe)

As long as they are not exploiting animals in the process of genetically engineering crops, there is nothing non-vegan about it. I have heard some horror stories where they spliced fish genes into tomatoes or strawberries or something, and so that would be non vegan most likely...

On the topic of GM crops you are quite right to an extent signlink, they do have many benefits.
However genetically modified crops inevitably seed outside their specified areas and cause havok in the surrounding area.

When it comes down to it people will chose the convinience of larger food chains over other outlets simply because larger grocery chains are usually cheaper and have a wider variety.
People vote with their wallets and the big food chains won it would seem.