Neil Young’s upcoming album takes on Monsanto and
genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
He calls the album "The Monsanto Years," but he
takes shots at others, including Starbucks.
He might be a good singer, but he's not a very clear thinker. And why people choose to believe Young on GMOs and not scientists and regulators is a good question. Can he point to one person who has been harmed by a GMO crop?
The title track refers to "the poison tide of
Monsanto" and describes a farmer who "signs a deal for GMOs that makes
life hell with Monsanto."
Young’s attacks Starbucks in a song called "A Rock Star
Bucks a Coffee Shop."
"I want a cup of coffee but I don't want a GMO. I like
to start my day off without helping Monsanto," Young sings.
In November he swore off Starbucks lattes because the
company, along with Monsanto, was part of the Grocery Manufacturers Association
trade group. Philosophers call this "guilt by association" in a list of many wrong-headed ways of thinking.
That organization is suing Vermont to overturn a law that
would require food and beverage companies to disclose on their labels if GMOs
are used in the products.
At that time, both Monsanto and Starbucks told CNNMoney that
they were not active parties in the lawsuit. Starbucks even said that it
disagrees with the Grocery Manufacturers Association's stance. But Young still
chooses to diss Starbucks.
"Starbucks is not a part of any lawsuit pertaining to
GMO labeling nor have we provided funding for any campaign," the company
reiterated in a statement to CNNMoney Friday. "And Starbucks is not
aligned with Monsanto to stop food labeling or block Vermont State law."
But will Young pull his upcoming album to delete that song? Good luck!
Monsanto said in a statement that "there is a lot of
misinformation about who we are and what we do -- and unfortunately several of
those myths seem to be captured in these lyrics."
The company representative added that "many of us at
Monsanto have been and are fans of Neil Young" but "his current album
may fail to reflect our strong beliefs in what we do every day to help make
agriculture more sustainable."
