General Mills Purchases Lara Bar: Raw Foods Movement for Sale?

[David and Katrina Rainoshek]

Big news in the world of raw food today: Lara Merriken, creator and former owner of Humm Foods which makes Lara Bars, sold her company to General Mills. Katrina and I read the news on Heidi and Justin Ohlander's site:

http://rawfoodrightnow.blogspot.com/2008/06/larabar-bought-by-gener...

Coca-Cola bought Odwalla a few years ago, remember that?

For starters, I have a lot of things I could say about Lara Bar's new ownership, and what it means in the context of creating a movement. Katrina and I are going to watch to see what the general reaction among the raw food community is to this news over the next day or so, and then decide whether a long discussion about the Raw Foods Movement from our perspective will be a helpful addition to the conversation.

We do want to say something to place our view in the initial days of conversation. So, in short, this is a poor decision from the perspective of maintaining the integrity of the Raw Foods Movement, regardless of how economically or business savy this may have looked internally to Lara Merriken and crew. We are creating new economies, new thoughts, new Life Practices - not merely gaining enough success to improve the image and bottom line of companies which have helped create the multitude of health problems and social problems and economic problems we now have - all stemming from a poor food environment.

As far as this spreading raw foods? Some people have suggested that this sale will further the awareness of the RFM. That is a non-starter. Lara was already in nationwide U.S. grocery store chains, without General Mills' ownership of her company, Humm Foods.

Let's create a new economy. We will not be buying Lara Bars anymore, which will only feed a corporation that advertises Boo Berry, Betty Crocker, Trix, Count Chocula, Pilsbury, and Totinos. Here is even more information about General Mills, including a continuation of the atrocious list of so-called foods already mentioned:

General Mills on Wikipedia

Don't let General Mills' efforts to buy up better products and market them color your vision. Buying a Lara Bar, in terms of food and health, will be nearly identical to buying something wholesome from a subsidiary of Philip Morris, the infamous tobacco company. It still benefits a company that is harming our nation, and we know this is true. Did you see the latest data out on diabetes? Here it is from an article in the June 25, 2008 New York Times:

The number of Americans with diabetes increased by 15 percent in two years to 24 million, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 8 percent of the population now has the disease, mainly Type 2 diabetes, which is linked to obesity and sedentary living, the agency said in a report using data from 2007. A quarter of people ages 60 and older had diabetes, the agency said. The number of people worldwide with diabetes will double to 366 million by 2030, according to the World Health Organization, which calls the disease an epidemic [read: pandemic]. The C.D.C. report was its first update of the prevalence of diabetes since 2005, when it reported that about 21 million Americans had the disease.

We in the Raw Foods Movement have all worked too damn hard:

- on ourselves
- helping others transcend this nonsense,
- and in putting together books, websites, blogs, and even businesses that move beyond such empty and harmful baggage as that created by General Mills.

Updates on this commentary will come, if appropriate and/or necessary. Let's see what our visionary community thinks...


In mourning for Lara Bar, and in hopes that this is a good lesson in what we in the RFM don't want at any price,


David Rainoshek, MA in The Green Room
www.JuiceFeasting.com

[lemoned]

Wow, this is really something. I've had one Lara Bar in my life, only because they're not for me (not a sweet tooth) but I'm still sad about the news. I wonder how much the company sold for....just so I can play the scenario of "An Indecent Proposal" in my head.

[David and Katrina Rainoshek]

They made 2006 sales of over $20 million, and said their sales continued feverishly upward from there....

[lemoned]

Oh...wow...that's not too bad. I wonder why the need for this kind of sale occurred, then. Well, I have a feeling the world will never know.

[Lucy]

thank you for keeping us up to date on this.. it makes me sad that this has happen... how can there be trust and integrity with a company like this...

[Lex Vilanova]

So now we can all realize that no amount of RAW is going to build your integrity. Sadly, I've met more people with integrity outside the raw movement than inside. That is not to say that the RFM is not worth it, it is more to say that it is "young" and sometimes immature. If anything, we must watch out for our egos getting the upper hand. I agree with all your comments David and will surely comply, and hope this helps in creating necessary new economies and leaders of those economies. "Out with the old!"

[David and Katrina Rainoshek]

Well said, Lex.

[Shakaya Breeze]

Thank you for posting this, I really appreciate being informed.
INTEGRITY is the word that comes to mind.
Unfortunately, this isn't the first nor the last of this type of sell-out in the raw community...
and yet, it isn't for me to judge her decision as I don't want to pretend that I am above anyone else. Also, I observe that often people with success have more influence for good/change than before, so perhaps she is going to have more power in the market place in the near future with an even greater mass marketed product...? It feels like 1 step forward, 2 steps back- time will tell, I guess.
It really makes one think, and feel.
I personally feel saddened and would not buy a Lara Bar for my kids now.
We are a young movement, and we are known by our conviction and standards. Thank you David and Katrina for upholing yours.

[Sunflower]

Thank you for all of the information on this!

I will not be purchasing lara bars in the future. To be honest, I loved them my first few months as a raw foodie, but quickly realized I could make much yummier things at home myself. I think it's important to think about how the closer we can get to growing it, picking it, preparing it, the more we can know about what actually goes into our food. I buy organic whenever possible and prepare things myself. One day soon I plan to grow as much of my own food as I can. I understand that lara bars are a great convenience for many, but it's so much funner to explore raw prep yourself, with the best ingredients you can find!

[Papajoe]

What did you expect. The bottom line is money, and the general public doesn't even know the difference. Even Oprah has gone vegan http://www2.oprah.com/foodhome/food/cleanse/menus/menus_main.jhtml
although I dout whether she is spending much time in her garden or kitchen. I have been raw for about 5 years now. For the first three I was pretty much doing it alone. I subscribe to any blog or website that gives me information on the subject and read. I also have Joined a raw food meetup group that is 75 miles away. I have been known to practice food without a license. I think this juice feast and the green room is a good start in creating a strong nucleus to spread the truth about RFM. But each of us has to join groups in our own locals and talk to people one on one about the movement. You just have to go to a couple of meetings and talk to someone that has been raw for over two years and see the vitality and energy they have. I was questioning paying to become a member of the green room, since I am in my 81st day of this juice feast. I had 56 days in Feb and March but stopped while I went on a cruise. I have no question of paying now because I can give and take valuable information in this setting. I don't eat laura bars. I found that most commercial products don't meet my personal standards. so I make my own. But I am lucky because I am 68 years old and grew up at a time when organic was a way of life and my family grew our own fruits and veggies had root cellars and local daries and poultry farms. I am behind you 100% David and am passing this on to all the people on my mailing list and meetup group.

[Geoffrey Baris]

Said well, I agree with your view 100%. Does this mean I have to quit eating my count chocolata. Just kidding. You have all my respect for bringing the RFM and Juice Feasting to the public. Regards, GB

[Jen]

The Green Wave is upon us. As more and more people get into it, the industry will also tag on, it's the all mighty dollar. Of course big companies are going to cash in as much as they can. We have to hope that as a by product of them doing so, more RAW and healthier products will become more mainstream and get the average person eating a little bit better. Gotta look for the positive guys! : )

[Debbie]

I was shocked to hear the news myself. I agree that it's not the best move regardless. But in times of a depressed economy, people have a tendancy to cave in what appears to be a "good and safe opportunity"...or, it could be just plain greed. We'll never know for sure. However, one thing is for sure, I really don't believe that it will do the product "Lara Bar" any justice - it will hurt it instead. I personally do not want to purchase something from a company that supports chronic illness, and "poor" food addiction. I have a hard time believing that the quality of the product will remain in tact. It's sad, very sad...Lara Bars were one of the first "raw" food bars that I started with before I learned how to create my own raw snacks. Yes, it's very sad...I too mourn for Lara Bar. :(